Man arrested for stealing rescue vehicle in Batangas

A man was arrested after stealing a vehicle of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in San Juan, Batangas.

The incident happened while the vehicle was parked along the road in Barangay Laiya Ibaba.

The suspect was a 43-year-old construction worker from Pili, Camarines Sur.

Based on police investigation, the suspect left his job after getting into a disagreement with his foreman. While walking along the highway, he reportedly saw the rescue vehicle with its door open and its key still inside. Having taken liquor earlier, all the suspect reportedly could think of was going home. 

He then hopped on the vehicle and drove to Camarines Sur.

“Habang binabaybay niya po ‘yung highway, sa di inaasahan ay napansin niya yung Rescue vehicle ng MDRRMO. So, bukas ang pintuan at nandoon po ang susi, eh may inom po siya kaya ang nasa isip niya ay uuwi siya ng Camarines Sur. Ngayon, nung ito ay minaneho niya hindi pa nakakalayo doon sa may Barangay Subukin, siya ay nag-self accident,” PMAJ. Erickson Go, Deputy Chief of San Juan Police Station, said.

Because the suspect was drunk, the vehicle hit a gutter and nearly fell into a ravine.

Authorities and personnel of San Juan MDRRMO eventually caught after the suspect and arrested him. 

As of this writing, the suspect is at the temporary custodial facility of the San Juan Police Station.

Police said the MDRRMO personnel were responding to an emergency, which reportedly explains why the vehicle door was left open and the key was left inside.

“Saglit daw silang tumigil kumbaga doon sa outpost nila at mayroong gagawin o kukuhanin na importante. Nung pagbalik nila, napansin nila na wala yung sasakyan, kaya kumbaga in-alerto nila yung ibang kasamahan para maghanap-hanap kung saan’ yung sasakyan at sa hindi kalayuan, nakita nila sa Barangay Subukin, sa provincial road,” Go said.

The suspect is facing charges and the San Juan MDRRMO assured the public the incident will not happen again. —GMA Regional TV