TUDELA, Misamis Occidental — Two suspected thieves were arrested while two of their companions managed to escape after they were caught allegedly stealing more than ₱1.2 million worth of equipment and diesel fuel from a digital infrastructure tower in Barangay Basirang, Tudela, in the early hours of Thursday, August 6.
Police identified the arrested suspects only by their aliases “Henry,” 42, a welder, and “Cris,” 25, a driver. Both are residents of Purok 2, Barangay Danlugan, Pagadian City.
The two other suspects who evaded arrest were identified as aliases “Reynando,” 40, and “Cyril,” both also residents of Pagadian City.
According to Police Major Ghuniel H. Cañete, chief of the Tudela Municipal Police Station (MPS), the incident unfolded at around 3:32 a.m. when a security guard assigned to the Unity Digital Infrastructure Tower noticed a suspicious white Toyota Hilux pickup truck bearing Plate No. GBK 3054 parked near the facility.
Moments later, the guard reportedly saw several individuals enter the tower compound after breaching its perimeter fence. He immediately sought assistance from the nearest police outpost located at Centro Napo Raagas Park.
Responding officers, Police Corporal Kevin Klein P. Atoz and Patrolman Jestoni O. Magante, rushed to the scene and caught the suspects in the act of loading stolen items into the pickup truck.
The officers successfully arrested Henry and Cris, while Reynando and Cyril fled toward a dark area and escaped.
Authorities recovered stolen equipment and other items with an estimated total value exceeding ₱1.21 million, including:
- Six ABT battery modules valued at ₱1.2 million (approximately ₱200,000 each);
- Around 120 liters of diesel fuel worth ₱10,800;
- A bolt cutter believed to have been used to cut through the facility’s fence;
- Plastic hoses and fuel containers allegedly used in siphoning and transporting the diesel.
Police also recovered the white Toyota Hilux allegedly used in the operation. Records from the Land Transportation Office showed that the vehicle is registered to Jayric Dinglasa Cosep of Zamboanga Sibugay. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the registered owner has any direct involvement in the incident, and the ownership of the vehicle remains part of the ongoing investigation.
The arrested suspects are now under the custody of the Tudela Municipal Police Station while appropriate criminal charges are being prepared.
Meanwhile, police have launched a hot pursuit operation to track down and arrest the two remaining suspects who escaped during the operation.
Authorities are also continuing their investigation to determine whether the group is linked to other theft incidents targeting telecommunications and digital infrastructure facilities in the region.