Police officer, wife accused of stealing bikes released

THE Quezon City Prosecutors Office has ordered the release of a police officer and his wife who were suspected of stealing and selling seven government-issued bicycles worth over P223,000.

An inquest resolution issued by the city prosecutor’s office said the police officer and his wife admitted stealing and selling the government-issued bikes.

They voluntarily surrendered last August 7 and the inquest was held the next day. Their identities were not revealed.

But the city prosecutor’s office said their arrest cannot be considered a valid warrantless arrest and ordered their release pending further investigation.

“A judicious scrutiny of the facts of the instant case reveals that the respondents’ apprehension, detention do not fall within the purview of a lawful warrantless arrest under Rule 113, Section 5 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedures in order to be a proper subject of an inquest proceeding,” the two-page resolution signed by City Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano and provided by the DOJ yesterday.

“Thus, this Office recommends that this case be referred for further investigation considering, that there are still matters and issues that need to be clarified,” it added.

Records of the case showed the bikes, worth a total of P223,475, were discovered missing last August 2 at the headquarters of the Quezon City Police District in Camp Tomas Karingal.

A police investigation showed the bikes were being sold on Facebook by one Calvin Distor Santillan last August 4.

“Santillan informed the police officers that the said bikes were sold to him by the respondents from July 28, 2024 onwards. Immediately thereafter, Santillan returned the said bikes to (the) complainants on August 5, 2024,” the resolution added.