AUTHORITIES arrested eight suspected notorious motorcycle thieves in separate operations in Benguet and Manila that resulted in the recovery of three stolen motorcycles.

Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group director Chief Supt. Leonardo A. Espina said the crackdown was part of their continuing effort to curb motorcycle theft incidents.

Espina said six of the suspects were arrested while conspiring to sell two stolen motorcycles to an undercover officer of the Cordillera Regional Highway Patrol Unit in Barangay Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet Tuesday.

He identified the suspects as Augusto Tabara, 32; John Gregory Paltikan, 31;  Ranil Gundangan, 19, of Benguet; Edmond Ackoy, 21; AJ Leomhell Ngateg, 19, and John Pasion, 23.

Espina said the six were arrested while conspiring to sell two stolen motorcycles belonging to Alfred Pudsoc, of Baguio City, who lost his two motorcycles in Pinsao Proper, Baguio City.

Meanwhile, suspects Rafael de Guzman alias “Raffa Razon” and John Paul Mique alias “Popo” were arrested in Tondo, Manila. The duo failed to present the documents for the motorcycles prompting authorities to hold them.         Alfred Dalizon