By Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA
DUMAGUETE CITY – Operatives of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team (PHPT) of Negros Oriental, in coordination with the municipal polie of Lazi in nearby Siquijor province, have arrested a fugitive wanted for estafa and recovered in the process a stolen Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
Chief Insp. Silvestre Cenia Jr., PHPT-Negros Oriental chief, identified the suspect as Mark Amante Padilla, 31, a resident of 257 Langka St., Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa in Metro Manila.
On Wednesday morning, the PHPT-Negros Oriental, together with the Lazi police, conducted a joint operation in Barangay Itaya in the town, by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Suceso A. Arcamo, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 47 of Tagbilaran, Bohol.
Cenia said the suspect was arrested for estafa under Criminal Case Nos. 19673, 195211 and 19522.
The bail for his temporary liberty was set at PHP40,000.
The police operatives also recovered from the suspect’s possession a black Toyota Land Cruiser 2018 model, valued at more or less PHP4 million.
The SUV, with Conduction Sticker No. A9J652, was reported as stolen by its registered owner, Nora U. Bondoc, female, of legal age, and a resident of Santa Ana, Taytay, Rizal.
Several “falsified” driver’s licenses, government identification cards, and other documents believed to have been used in the “Rent Tangay/Sangla” modus operandi were also recovered from Padilla.
The suspect is under temporary custody of the PHPT-Negros Oriental pending a commitment order, while the SUV is with the same police unit for proper disposition.
