Two men have been charged in the Manila Regional Trial Court after barangay (village) officials caught them in the act of stealing a manhole cover in the Sta. Cruz area.
A theft case was filed against Jomel Martinez, 20, and Chris Andrew Bayani, 20, of Almeda Street in Tondo, Manila, based on the complaint of Edgardo Lontok, chair of Barangay 355, Zone 36.
Lontok said he and other village officials were on patrol at 4 a.m. on May 21 on Priscilla Street where the two men were seen loading a manhole cover into their tricycle.
Lontok said they tried to stop them but the two sped off in their tricycle.
A check showed that the two men also took the manhole covers on Yakal Street and Herrera corner Ilustre Streets.
But since both men were known to the barangay officials, Lontok coordinated with other people in Tondo and the two men were eventually caught.
The stolen manhole covers worth P10,000 each, however, were not recovered.