By Danny Estacio
SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna- Authority arrested two suspected motorcycle thieves, including the master called “motorcycle chopper”, in a police operation in Barangay Sta. Filomena, here, the Laguna Police Provincial Office (LPPO) reported on Monday.
Laguna PPO Director Colonel Serafin Petalio II identified the suspects as Hardy Barcelon, 25, a motorcycle mechanic, and a resident of Alicante St. Teomora, Village Phase 3, Barangay, San Gabriel, in this city, and Ismael Laja, and a resident of Villa Adelina Brgy. San Agustin in Alaminos town.
San Pablo City Police Station conducted the operations based on the reports of three consecutive cases of carnapping reported by victims Jeffrey C Dela Cruz, 34, lending collector; Marvin Velasco, 33, delivery boy, and Rendell Mark Deomano, all of San Pablo City.
A concerned citizen tipped off the police about the supposed lair of the suspects which led to the operation that resulted in the arrest of Barcelon, and recovery of the stolen motorcycles of victims Dela Cruz and Velasco.
Barcelon, being a mechanic, was allegedly responsible for dissecting the motorcycle parts, which was why he was notoriously known as the “motorcycle chopper”. His residence also serves as bodega for the parts of motorcycles that were stolen by his group.
In a follow-up operation staged in coordination with the Alaminos police, the San Pablo City police then proceeded to Villa Adelina in Barangay San Agustin, Alaminos where they recovered the motorcycle stolen from Deomano.
Laja was the alleged mastermind of the carnapping group, and was arrested during the raid.