Thieves caught in the act of stealing NIA bulldozer sprockets arrested
by Ben Serrano
November 28, 2010

            BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - Security personnel guarding National Irrigation Administration compound in Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte arrested three thief suspects who were caught in the act of stealing bulldozer sprockets from the NIA stockroom inside said compound Friday morning.

            Caraga police regional information office official report identified the suspects as Jay Castulo Lumpera, 21, single, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay Sanghan, Nilo Andonga Taglucop, 18, single and Rinky Andonga Taglucop, 20, single, both residents of Purok 2, Barangay Sanghan of said municipality

            NIA security guard Leonardo Sombreo Maligro, 56, who is also a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Sanghan who first took noticed and later apprehended the suspects told police investigators he caught in the act stealing three pieces of sprocket estimated to worth P20,000 each at current market price.

            Initial police investigation result showed that the suspects gained entry by climbing the fence, jumped inside the compound and removed the grills of the stockroom and carted the said items.

            Maligro said the suspects were about to escape and in the act of climbing the wall of the stockroom carrying their stolen items when they were spotted thus arrested after caught in the act in a very uncompromising situation.

            With the use of his service firearm, Maligro halted the suspects and immediately call assistance from his security guard colleagues who later call the Cabadbaran Police.

            Police have been readying criminal charges against the three suspects whose houses is located near NIA compound.

            Missing spare parts of government owned heavy equipment inside many NIA compounds and in many government offices in the region have been allegedly the perennial problems in the past costing not only long delays in many irrigation projects and government projects but also incurred heavy financial losses of hard-earned taxpayers’ money. (PNA/Ben Serrano)