N. Cotabato PNP nab most wanted in murder motorbike thief

KIDAPAWAN CITY --After seven years in hiding, a farmer accused of murder was arrested in Magpet, a hinterland town in North Cotabato, Thursday. Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDG) in North Cotabato and elements of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSP) in Region 12 led the apprehension of Hernando Recona, farmer from Barangay Kisandal, Magpet, included as among the most wanted person in North Cotabato. Recona, reports from the CIDG said, has been wanted for murder that happened in 2009. Recona’s arrest came after a warrant was issued in 2014 by Judge Alandrex Betoya of the Regional Trial Court branch 23 in Kidapawan City. Also, authorities here arrested a female teenager for stealing motorcycle in nearby Makilala town in North Cotabato, Thursday. Police identified the suspect as Kristine Joy Tumilap, 19 and an out-of-school youth from Barangay San Vicente, Makilala. Tumilap, reports said, was driving a stolen motorcycle on her way to the city’s Poblacion when sighted by the owner of the vehicle. The owner then sought help from a traffic enforcer who was then manning the highway at that time. Immediately, they accosted the teenage girl and asked if she could provide them the documents as proof she owned the motorbike. When Tumilap failed to present the papers, she was then brought to the city’s police headquarters for investigation. Investigators said they are preparing charges of carnapping against Tumilap and a still unidentified male teenager, who was able to elude arrest at the time traffic enforcers flagged them down along the highway.