3 arrested in Tuguegarao City oil theft sting

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Three men allegedly involved in a series of crude oil theft cases were arrested din Barangay Libag Norte here early Friday morning.

Police Lt. Col. Garry Matagay, chief of the Tuguegarao City police, said the suspects were identified after the city’s Command Center monitored through closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras a white commuter van that had been linked to previous crude oil theft cases in the city.

Authorities spotted one of the vehicle’s occupants scaling the fence of the target facility along the national highway, prompting police officers and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team members to immediately respond.

The operation led to the arrest of the three suspects, all residents of Tabuk City, Kalinga. Their identities were withheld in accordance with the Data Privacy Act.

Seized during the operation were two improvised .22 caliber rifles, ammunition, five sachets of suspected shabu, two mobile phones, 11 empty plastic containers, two hoses, and a license plate believed to have been used in the operation.

The suspects are facing charges of attempted theft, violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act (Republic Act No. 10591), and violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165).

Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether other individuals were involved in the alleged crude oil theft operation./gsg