Three individuals were arrested in Quezon for allegedly pilfering oil, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
The suspects were caught at 2 a.m. on Tuesday at Sitio Cinderella, Barangay Santa Catalina Sur in Candelaria town, following police intelligence reports, according to a PNP statement.
‘They were caught transferring methanol from the 10-wheeler oil tanker truck, which had no license plate, and transferring the fuel to white plastic containers,’ the police explained, speaking in Filipino.
Methanol is an industrial solvent that can serve as fuel for internal combustion engines or as a raw material to produce biodiesel.
Authorities confiscated seven white plastic containers with methanol; a white plastic container with diesel; two motor pumps and seven motor pump hoses, the PNP noted.
The methanol and diesel recovered amounted to P90,000, the police added.
The three suspects were taken into the custody of the Candelaria town police, awaiting a case for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1865, which prohibits the unauthorized trading of petroleum or petroleum products.
‘Authorities have opened an investigation to determine whether the suspects were involved in other illegal activities and who may be their other accomplices,’ the PNP added. /jpv