DIGOS City ― Authorities collared a truck driver was caught in the act of stealing diesel fuel from the vehicle he was driving at about 5:48 pm on April 13, a police report said.
Lt. Colonel Kristopher Sabsal, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur police chief identified the suspect as alias ‘Ramil,’ 36, a resident of Purok-4, Barangay Camanchiles, Matanao, Davao del Sur.
Sabsal said a joint operation with his office and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Davao del Sur Field Unit – 11 led by Major Renfredo Dacalos through the direct supervision of CIDG-DSPFU-11 provincial chief Lt/Colonel Demetrius Taypin acting on the complaint of Christopher Cabigas, the operator of a trucking company on suspicions of a fuel theft perpetrated by truck drivers.
Ramil (surname withheld) was caught red-handed by the operating team wherein one plastic container containing an estimated 25 liters of diesel fuel amounting to P1,350 was taken from a Wing-Van truck of CrisAnn Trucking Services.
An improvised suction hose and another three empty plastic containers were also seized during the operation and kept to become an integral part of the evidence to be presented in court should the operator will pursue the charges of qualified theft against his driver.
Fuel theft perpetrated by truck drivers is a common scenario that brought a lot of headaches to operators of trucking companies.
Drivers will usually sell the stolen fuel to private vehicle owners at a lower cost compared to the pump prices and kept the money for personal use.
The police warned drivers to refrain from doing such activities as qualified theft is a criminal offense that carries heavy penalties in accordance with national laws.
