By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two young men were arrested in an entrapment operation early evening of June 19, 2021 in Arevalo, Iloilo City.
Christian Delima, 19, a resident of Guzman-Jesena St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City and Jan Mar Torteo, 20, of Barangay Nalundan, Guimbal, Iloilo were collared after they allegedly tried to sell a stolen bicycle.
Captain Myles Dieron, Cabatuan police chief, said Chretien Eros Venta, 18, reported that his bicycle worth P40,000 went missing while it was parked at their house in Barangay Gines Patag, Cabatuan, Iloilo.
They learned about the incident early morning of June 17.
But it didn’t take long before Venta’s cyclist-friends recognized that the same stolen bicycle was being sold online for P25,000.
An entrapment operation was conducted until Delima and Torteo were arrested 6 p.m. Saturday at Barangay Mohon, Arevalo.
Both suspects denied stealing the bicycle.
Torteo explained that he was buying things online. Someone allegedly offered to sell him the bicycle for P14,000. He claimed that he took pictures of the items sold and the seller.
But on that instance, he allegedly forgot to take the photo of the seller or get his name. He was able to pay P10,000 and a payable balance of P4,000.
Because he had no money left, Torteo said he asked Delima to sell the bicycle for P20,000.
Delima jacked up the price to P25,000 when he posted the bicycle for sale.
Dieron said the two parties agreed to settle the matter.
Venta agreed not to pursue a criminal case provided Torteo and Delima would pay him P8,000 as part of his incidental expenses when he began looking for his stolen bicycle.
