Three residents of Narra are in hot water for reportedly stealing a total of 32 prized fighting cocks owned by a local barangay captain who also breeds the game fowls.
A report obtained by Palawan News from the Narra police identified the three suspects as Ernesto Cariño, 23, Bernard Bucac Teodoro, 20, and Arnold Teodoro, 22, all residents of the municipality.
They were reportedly nabbed by the Narra police at the farm in Brgy. Teresa of Brgy. Panacan captain and ABC Narra president Ferdinand Zaballa on Monday morning. They were earlier identified by roving barangay “tanods” whom they tried to flee away from, leaving a rice sack that had some of the roosters inside.
The police valued the stolen game fowls at P354,000, including 18 stag roosters worth P18,000 each and 14 cock roosters worth P15,000 each.
Authorities managed to recover from the three suspects nine of the stolen animals, with four already dead.
In an interview with Palawan News, the suspects said they were under the influence of alcohol when they stole the roosters and had no idea that it was Zaballa’s farm.
“Nakainom kasi kami noon, trip-trip lang po. Hindi namin alam na siya (Zaballa) ang may-ari. Aalagaan lang sana namin ‘yong mga manok,” said Teodoro.
They added they did not mean to kill them, they only wanted to own them.
Zaballa, who described himself as a “passionate breeder”, vowed to prosecute the case against the suspects.
“Hindi natin ito papabayaan na hindi mabigyan ng legal na aksyon laban dito sa mga taong gumagawa ng gantong krimen sa bayan ng Narra,” he said.
He claimed that the suspects had been involved in previous cases of theft.
“Itong mga taong ito dati na itong may kaso sa ganoong krimen,” he said.
The suspects are presently detained at the Narra Municipal Police prior to the filing of charges against them.
