THREE minors will face carnapping charges before the Regional Trial Court after they were caught dismantling a carnapped motorcycle in Bunawan, Davao City.
In a resolution dated September 29, Prosecutor Joy Bernales Largo has recommended the filing of case against the two 17-year-old boys and a 16-year-old for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 10883 otherwise known as the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016.
According to the resolution, the complainant Ranair Gudin woke up early morning of September 21 to find his Rusi Delta motorcycle missing.
Gudin reported the lost to the Sasa Police Station.
The Sasa Police coordinated with the Bunawan Police to find the missing motorcycle the following day, while the Bunawan Police coordinated with the Barangay Peace and Order Unit (BPOU) in their area of responsibility.
On September 24, while members of the BPOU were conducting a patrol at Purok 5 in Barangay Bunawan, they saw the boys dismantling a motorcycle in a kiosk along the barangay road.
As they knew about a missing motorcycle, they approached the boys and examined the chassis and engine number of the motorcycle, thus confirming that it was the missing motorcycle.
In the resolution, Prosecutor Largo said while the suspects were minors, they, however, can be charged for the offense since they were found to have acted with discernment when they committed the crime.
Largo also cited Section 23 of the Republic Act 9344 which provides that if a child is in conflict with the law, committed a crime "where the imposable penalty exceeds six years of imprisonment, diversion measures may be resorted to only by the court."
The crime committed by the suspects were punishable by imprisonment for not less than 20 years and one day but not more than 30 years.