‘Goat thieves’ collared during escape

By Jennifer P. Rendon

If Iloilo City has car fuel pilferers, Iloilo province has goat thieves.

Four persons, three of whom are teenagers, were arrested for alleged animal theft.

Ramcy Bayona, 38, and his relatives Reniel Beduya, 18; RJ (not his real name), 17; Gino Sumagaysay, 18, all residents of Barangay Lagubang, Barotac Nuevo town, were intercepted by members of Barotac PNP around 5 a.m. of Oct 26.

The four were collared after the Pototan Police Station alerted neighboring police units about an animal theft incident that happened 3 a.m. at Barangay Barasan, Pototan.

Barangay Captain Diosdado Patchica informed the police about a group of unidentified persons on board a tricycle who carted away five goats owned by 55-year-old Larry Gumban.

The goat owner claimed that he saw a motorcycle and tricycle circling his property, particularly at the area where he kept his goats.

When he checked, he saw several men running from the area.

He also learned that five of his female goats were already missing.

Later, police intercepted the four suspects on board a tricycle.

However, only one goat was recovered from their possession.

Gumban later went to Barotac Police Station and confirmed that they were the same persons whom he saw near his goat shed.

The four suspects were eventually turned over to Pototan Police Station.

But Major Ciriaco Esquilarga, Pototan police chief, said Gumban is no longer interested in pursuing criminal charges against the suspects.

He claimed that he and his wife were ill and might not be able to attend to the rigor of legal proceedings.