2 nabbed for pickpocketing

Two men from Samar province were arrested by Station 1 policemen Tuesday afternoon when they took the wallet of a jeepney passenger that contained P12,670 in cash at the Bacolod City downtown area, but their unidentified companion escaped.

Arrested were Joseph Macabenta and Bert Valles, both 32, and residents of Paranas and Catbalogan towns in Samar, City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, said yesterday.

Romela Dubria of Purok Marapara Dos, Brgy. Bata, told the police she discovered her wallet gone from her shoulder bag after she alighted from a passenger jeepney at the corner of Rizal-Lacson streets.

Dubria said she chased the jeepney until it was in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral and saw the suspects, whom she said were her co-passengers, and immediately sought police help.

Her wallet was recovered from Macabenta, who admitted the crime and apologized.

Investigation showed that the suspects arrived in Bacolod on Monday, were staying in Bago City, and are in the city obviously to victimize MassKara revelers.

De la Paz said they are looking into the possibility that Macabenta, Valles and Alex Sentino Santos, 35, of Brongan, Eastern Samar, who was nabbed for circulating fake bills in Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod last week belong to the same group.

Macabenta, however, said they do not belong to any group and don’t have any criminal records back in Samar.*APN

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Carnap suspect falls

An alleged notorious carnapper, tagged as the suspect in the theft of the motorcycle of Bacolod City Police Special Operations chief, Supt. Santiago Rapiz, was arrested at his house in Brgy. Pahanocoy yesterday.

Police identified the suspect as Jessie Boy Rivera, 33, of Purok Bantod, Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod.

Rivera was apprehended on the strength of an arrest warrant for carnapping issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Eliseo Geolingo, who set his bail at P180,000, the police said.

Rapiz said his black Honda XRM motorcycle, driven by his son, was parked in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral when it was stolen in April this year.

He said Rivera admitted stealing his motorcycle and that he traded it for illegal drugs in Brgy. 2, Bacolod.

Rapiz added that they are still checking if Rivera has other pending cases or arrest warrants.*APN

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