4 thieves collared

Four suspected thieves were arrested in separate police operations in Bacolod City yesterday, the Philippine National Police said.

Michael Gutierrez, 22, of Purok Sunflower, Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod, was nabbed by Police Station 6 members PO2 Ludovico de la Raya and PO1 Troy Fegidero near a fastfood outlet at Mabini-Libertad streets, at about 10 a.m. yesterday, police records showed.

Gerry George Medel, 39, of Galo-San Juan streets, Brgy. 12, an alleged snatcher, on the other hand, was turned over by Tay Tung High School security guard, Rodel Benlero, to Police Station 6 at about 1 p.m. yesterday.

Rogelio Opiño, alias “Jiji”, of Purok Rosal, Brgy. Taculing, and Roland Villanueva, alias “Zuma”, of Purok Gaisano, Brgy. Alijis, in the city, meanwhile, were collared by Police Station 1 members led by precinct commander, Chief Insp. Santiago Rapiz, at about 5 p.m. yesterday.

Opiño, who was nabbed at a barbershop in Taculing, and Villanueva, who was apprehended in his house, were arrested on the strength of warrants for direct assault and robbery issued by Regional Trial Court judges Danilo Amisola and Lorna Demonteverde, respectively, Rapiz said.

The two were tagged in the break-in at a farming supply shop at the downtown area earlier this year and at a residence at Roxas Avenue, Brgy. 39, in the city, last week, he added.

Rapiz said they will try to recover the stolen items that Opiño and Villanueva had sold before they will transfer them to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology detention center in Bacolod.

Gutierrez, who works as a barker or a person who prods passengers to ride jeepneys, was pinpointed by an informant to be among the six persons who robbed a Burger Machine branch near the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos at Lizares Street, in the city Wednesday morning, Chief Insp. Ulysses Ortiz, Police Station 6 commander, said.

A nine-inch three-pointed bladed weapon, two crumpled papers with suspected marijuana leaves inside, a tooter, a lighter, and P56 in cash, were confiscated from Gutierrez, police records showed.

Gutierrez denied involvement in the burger shop robbery but, he added that, he asked for a pack of fruit juice from one of the thieves who took burgers, mayonnaise, and other items from the commercial outfit.

He also denied owning the alleged marijuana and the weapon but he admitted that the lighter and the tooter were his.

Gutierrez is facing robbery-hold-up charges for the Burger Machine incident, and will also face charges for violations of Republic Act 9165 if the substance in the crumpled papers tests positive for marijuana, Ortiz said.

Medel, on the other hand, was arrested by the Tay Tung guards after he allegedly snatched the pouch of Sheena Grace Alyana at the school around noon yesterday.

Alyana’s companion, Pamela Ann Anibawan, said that Medel was feeding a grade school student she was taking care of, when Medel grabbed her purse.

Medel, a peanut vendor, claimed that he did not manage to get the pouch but he did not express remorse when police investigators confronted him about the snatching.

The police said that Medel had also been detained at Police Station 6 also for a theft case last year.*PP

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Truck driver nabbed for
assaulting city cop

A man was detained after he allegedly assaulted a policeman who reprimanded him about his driving behavior in Bacolod City Wednesday, the police said yesterday.

Rolando Vista, 50, of Paglaum Village, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod, was detained at Police Station 6 after he allegedly repeatedly punched PO2 Karyl Mugemulta at Mabini-Lizares streets, in the city, at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, police records showed.

Mugemulta, a member of Police Station 7, said that Vista, who was driving a pick-up truck, attacked him after he commented on his driving style.

He added that Vista boxed him even after he identified himself as a police officer.

Vista, who was processing his bail yesterday, refused to comment on the incident, saying he and Mugemulta had settled the matter.

Chief Insp. Ulysses Ortiz, Police Station 6 commander, meanwhile, said that direct assault charges have been filed against Vista Wednesday.

Ortiz said that Vista may have not attacked Mugemulta if the officer was in uniform at that time.*PP

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