Five "transient thieves" charged for theft

CEBU, Philippines - Five alleged thieves from Bacolod City who came to Cebu for the Sinulog have been charged in court after they were arrested last week for stealing the bag of a customer in one of the establishments at the Cebu Business Center.

Roldon Brodit, Merlyn Pareño, Jerame Magtubo, Christopher Perez and Aron Panisa, all from Bacolod City, were indicted of the crime of theft before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City and ordered to pay P22,000 each for their temporary liberty.

The accused were caught after a brief chase by the house detectives of the center after stealing the handbag of a certain Ederlina Anderson.

Anderson was dining at the Idea Italia restaurant at about 1 p.m. last January 14 when the accused took her bag containing her wallet and expensive sunglasses.

House detectives Asombrado Elviro and William Jusoy said they noticed three of the suspects going back and forth in the restaurant without ordering anything. According to the detectives, they eventually came near a couple eating their meals.

One of the accused picked up the woman’s bag which was hung behind the chair occupied by the victim and immediately fled. The detectives said they informed the victim what happened and chased the suspects until they were arrested at a nearby PUJ terminal.

Magtubo was caught in possession of the bag but all of them allegedly connived with each other to pull off the crime. — Fred P. Languido/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)