A man was arrested by the police in Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 3, after he allegedly tried to sell a stolen motorcycle online.
Lt. Col. Mark Janis Ballesteros, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Talipapa Station (PS 3) commander, identified the suspect as BJ Vincent Escote, 20, of Barangay Balon Bato, Quezon City.
Joint operatives from the PS 3 and QCPD La Loma Station (PS 1) arrested the suspect in Barangay Balingasa at around 11:15 p.m. on Tuesday after receiving a report from the victim, Claire Alcantara, who claimed that she saw her stolen motorcycle being sold in a social media platform.
The QCPD said the victim already reported to them last Nov. 6, 2022 that her Yamaha Mio MXi motorcycle was stolen in her residence in Barangay Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
According to the QCPD, the victim pretended to be the buyer of the motorcycle and agreed to meet with the suspect on A. Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay Balingasa. The operatives approached the suspect after the victim positively identified the motorcycle being sold as hers.
Police arrested Escote after they saw an improvised handgun loaded with one 12 gauge ammunition in his possession. The motorcycle documents presented by the suspect were also under the name of the victim.
The suspect will be charged for violations of Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law, and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, the police said.