COPS RAID ‘PAIHI’ WAREHOUSE IN QUEZON, ARREST 3 SUSPECTS

POLICE on Tuesday morning raided a warehouse containing stolen petroleum products and arrested three persons doing “paihi” (pilferage) at Sitio Cinderella, Bgy. Sta. Catalina Sur, Candelaria, Quezon.

Quezon police director Col. Romulo Albacea identified the arrested suspects as alias “Michael,” 35, of Tuy, Batangas, alias “Nexel,” 19, of Sariaya, Quezon, and alias “Reli,” 48, of Candelaria, Quezon.

Albacea expressed belief that selling of the stolen petroleum products to small gas stations will be reduced with the arrest of the suspects.

The official said the suspects were arrested by joint elements of the Provincial Intelligence Unit under Lt. Col. Ben Ballera and Candelaria Police Station under Lt. Col. Al Loren Bigay while unloading methanol from an Isuzu ten-wheeler oil tanker truck without plate number and transferring the same into white plastic containers.

Seized were 12 white plastic containers containing methanol, seven white plastic containers containing gasoline, one white plastic container containing diesel, two motor pumps, and seven motor pump hoses amounting to P90,000.

The arrested suspects, who are now detained at the Candelaria Lock up Jai,were charged with violation of Presidential Decree 1865 (Oil Pilferage Act).

Albacea said Calabarzon police director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas and Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan have standing order to make Quezon free from all forms of illegal activities, including illegal drugs, illegal gambling, prostitution, oil pilferage, and violators of environmental laws.