With the use of minors, a new racket is born

The severity of the illegal drug problem in the city and in the towns has spawned into a more morbid scenario in which crime syndicates are now using minors to steal motorbikes, with ‘shabu' used by crime masterminds as a form of payment to the young criminals. With motorbikes multiplying in numbers on the road, being the fastest way to get around in the city and in the towns, the cases of carnapped bikes have also skyrocketed, a problem which had once baffled police authorities here until they learned why. Police Superintendent Jovito Atanacio, city police chief, told The Post that bike carnapping is on the rise in Tagbilaran because crime syndicates are using shabu to lure young criminals.

In February alone, 17 cases of bike carnapping, a 400% increase from January's 4 cases, were recorded at the City Police Station. Of the 17 motorbikes stolen, police have recovered eight, and the authorities have filed four cases in court against the perpetrators. “Many of the perpetrators are 15 to 17 years old,” Atanacio said. “Since they cannot be tried in court, we turn over these minors to the DSWD.” Police Superintendent Joie Pacito Yape Jr., Bohol Police Provincial Office's public information officer and police community relations head, has also confirmed to The Post that bike carnapping is now alarming in Bohol. Yape said that there is a strong relationship with the proliferation of illegal drugs and the spate of bike carnapping cases. Bohol PNP Provincial Director Col. Dennis Palo Agustin has ordered chiefs of police all over Bohol to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs, believed to be the root cause of all heinous crimes taking place in Bohol. Since Agustin's assumption as Bohol PNP Director, police have seized multi-million peso worth of shabu during various anti-drug operations in the province, a record-breaking accomplishment for a new Bohol police chief.

Meanwhile, both Yape and Atanacio have blamed ‘shabu' as the culprit behind the increasing incidents of stolen motorbikes. Police intelligence reports have shown that for three motorbikes stolen, young carnappers would be awarded by their “masters” with P5,000 cash and another P5,000 worth of shabu. The unconventional payment scheme has attracted drug addicts, who need both cash and the illegal substance to sustain their deadly habit. Favorite target of bike carnappers are Honda XRM and Honda Wave models, the engines of which can also be used for sea pumpboats. A source said engine keys of Honda XRM and Honda Wave models can also be easily duplicated. On the other hand, Atanacio said that four-wheeled cars have not been targeted by carnappers. Police said carnapping of automobiles will not prosper in Bohol, being an island province that provides no easy exit for criminals. “Only motorbikes are vulnerable to carnapping,” Atanacio said. “It's easy to hide and transport them from one place to another.”