Another suspected snatcher was collared when he and his companion attempted to stage a robbery in Bacolod City Saturday, the police said yesterday.

Edilberto Gelisanga, 24, was arrested by a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection when the blue motorcycle he and Kevin Estanisalo were riding crashed into a tricycle after snatching the bag of a woman at B.S. Aquino Drive, Bacolod, at about 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

The bag, a stick of suspected marijuana, and five cellphone SIM cards, were recovered from Gelisanga, but Estanislao managed to escape, Police Station 4 commander, Chief Inspector Santiago Rapiz, said.

Gelisanga, who was mauled by bystanders, said poverty pushed him to steal.

Rapiz said the unidentified BFP officer, also on a motorcycle, was following Gelisanga and Estanislao, and saw them grab the woman’s bag.

He said Gelisanga’s Honda XRM motorcycle that does not have a plate No., has been repeatedly identified by victims as the vehicle used by the thieves who had robbed them.

Rapiz said they will file robbery charges against Gelisanga at the City Prosecutor’s Office today.

They may also lodge cases for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 against him if the suspected stick of marijuana seized from him tests positive.

Rapiz also called on victims to visit their station to see of Gelisanga was the one who had robbed them.*PP

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