‘Notorious’ snatcher nabbed, ‘shabu’ seized

CEBU, Philippines —  An alleged notorious snatcher, who was fleeing after stealing a phone from a commuter, was cornered and arrested by a traffic enforcer on Uldog Street, Talisay City, Cebu Tuesday.

The victim, 25-year-old Arone Malacaste Sanchez, said two men on board a motorcycle snatched his phone in Sitio Kalmar, Barangay Lawaan 2.

Sanchez reported the incident to City of Talisay Traffic Operations Development Authority (CT-TODA) enforcers and the police. The enforcers immediately contacted Joy Tumulak, the city’s traffic czar, who then alerted all traffic enforcers deployed along the Cebu South Coastal Road.

The traffic enforcer assigned in Uldog Street sighted the suspects—Vincent Quinones,23, a resident of Barangay Lutopan in Toledo City, and Reynier Villcencio.

When the enforcer approached the suspects, Quinones tried to run him over with his motorcycle and tried to flee, but failed.

He is currently detained at the city’s custodial facility pending the filing of robbery and drug charges.

Villcencio, on the other hand, was able to escape on foot during the commotion. He remains at large as of press time.

Recovered from Quinones were the getaway motorcycle, a black phone, and four sachets of suspected shabu.

The phone was returned to Sanchez after Quinones’ arrest.

According to the responding cops, the motorcycle was reportedly stolen from John Paul Panonicillo, 25, who hails from Sitio Bunga, Barangay Lutopan.

The cops are also checking if the suspects are involved in the illegal drug trade after drugs were found in the possession of Quinones.

Police Corporal Eleazar Belciña, chief investigator of Talisay City Police Station, said Oplan Magneto was immediately conducted upon receiving the robbery report.

Oplan Magneto, a police intervention in coordination with CT-TODA, barangay officials and force multipliers, aims to ensure prompt action to address and deter crimes.

In a Facebook post, Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas Jr. lauded the bravery of the city’s traffic enforcers.

“Let me commend our very active and brave traffic enforcers who are willing to put their lives on the line just to help our constituents in need,” he said. — Dheif Daniel Yunting, USC Comm Intern, KQD (FREEMAN)