Notorious snatcher falls, thanks to quick-acting cop, community

WOUNDED COP Police Officer 3 Armand Soliven relates to Quezon City police chief Senior Supt. Joel D. Pagdilao (center) and Supt. Nestor S. Abalos how he was wounded in pursuit of two snatchers in Barangay Tagumpay on Thursday morning. He was hit in the right leg and shoulder and underwent surgery at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines—The long arm of the law finally caught up with a notorious robber Thursday morning in Quezon City and his arrest almost cost a policeman his leg.

Delfin Obaña, 47, who has a string of petty crimes on his record, was arrested hours after he pulled off his latest felony and shot a policeman who chased him.

Police said PO3 Armand Soliven was on his motorcycle on his way to work when two men ran past him on P. Tuazon Boulevard, Barangay Tagumpay, at 5:30 a.m. Moments later, a bystander ran up to him and reported that the two men had just snatched the bag of a woman aboard a jeepney. Soliven promptly gave chase but when he caught up with them, one of the two men pulled a gun and shot him in the shoulder and lower right leg.

The two men got away but a security camera gave them away. From the footage, police and barangay officials managed to identify the physique and limp of Obaña, a notorious criminal in Barangay Tagumpay, said the Quezon City police director Senior Supt. Joel Pagdilao.

‘‘He has previous records of robbery-holdups and has been in and out of jail. He’s just able to post bail every time,” Pagdilao said.

With the help of his neighbors, Obaña was found five hours later in his home on P. Tuazon in the barangay. A handgun was also recovered from him. Also arrested with him was another wanted man and suspected cohort, Ferdinand Tolentino, who had a warrant of arrest for another robbery. A bag of suspected shabu was found in Tolentino’s possession.

At the Project 4 station, the snatching victim, Cristina Natividad, 28, positively identified Obaña as one of the snatchers. From the station’s rogues gallery, she also identified the other snatcher as Thomas Fuller, alias ‘‘Tisoy,” who remains at large.

When Obaña was brought to the Qurino Memorial Medical Center, Soliven also positively identified him as the gunman. Soliven also described the gunman as having a limp.

Obaña admitted to the snatching, but denied he was the gunman. He said the gun was entrusted to him by his accomplice. Obaña is facing complaints of robbery-snatching and frustrated homicide.

Pagdilao, visiting Soliven at the hospital, credited the speedy arrest of Obaña to the policeman’s quick response and the community’s cooperation.

‘‘The bulk of crimes here in Quezon City are robbery and theft or street crimes. We see here that these street crimes can be quickly resolved with the help of the community,” Pagdilao said.