Tokhang surrenderer caught red-handed in ‘motor-napping’

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A Tokhang surrenderer with several criminal offenses under his belt was arrested for attempting to drive off a motorcycle early morning of March 11 at City Proper district, Iloilo City.

Police identified the suspect as John Rey Galve, 25, of Barangay San Felix, City Proper.

Galve was allegedly caught in the act of stealing a motorcycle – a black Yamaha Mio i125 – owned by a City Hall-employed green guard at around 2:50 a.m. Saturday.

The motorcycle owner, John Paul Confesor, 28, of Barangay Muelle Loney, City Proper, was on night shift duty when he and fellow green guard, Rico Laurence Diones, caught the suspect.

Confesor said he saw Galve pushing his motorcycle to an area around 30 meters from where he parked it.

Galve was already heading towards Infante Street when he was apprehended.

When he was caught, the suspect yielded an 8-inch knife and a pair of scissors.

Members of the Iloilo City Police Office-Mobile Patrol Unit (MPU) later responded and arrested Galve.

Major Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said that Galve is considered a notorious theft.

On top of that, he also had a previous case for violation of Republic Act 10883 (New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016).

Galve was also accused of violating Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act).

With his recent arrest, Galve would be charged anew for violation of RA 10883 and City Ordinance No. 138 (illegal possession of a deadly weapon).

The word tokhang, is a made-up portmanteau of the local words for knock (tok) and plead (hangyo). It describes police operations launched by the Duterte administration in 2016 that involved officers going door to door to root out drug-related offenders.