CEBU, Philippines - A suspected thief was arrested after he was caught in the act of stealing car parts estimated to worth P97,000 from his former employer last Thursday night in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Jonathan Espiritu, 28, was arrested by responding policemen at around 10: 30 p.m. after the neighbors of Neil Labrador, a businessman and the suspect’s former boss, spotted him and his cohorts while they were about to board a taxi.
Espiritu’s two other companions, whom he only identified as certain “Jun-Jun” and “Jong-Jong,” were able to run away and elude arrest.
One set of Volk Racing rims with tires worth P72,000, one set of Rota 17” rims worth P25,000 and three tire jacks were recovered by the police from the robbers’ possession.
It was one of the victim’s neighbors, Emilio Taboada, who phoned the police and asked for assistance about the ongoing theft happening in their area.
In an interview with The FREEMAN, Espiritu admitted to the crime, saying he was forced to steal because he needs money to pay for the rent of the house that his family is occupying.
The suspect also admitted that he used to work for the victim but resigned from work three months ago.
Senior Insp. Bonifacio Garciano, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office said that they have already invited Labrador to appear before their office for the filing a case against Espiritu and his accomplices.
Espiritu has expressed regret for what he did, saying he would ask for apology from his former boss for what he did.
Mangayo ko og pasaylo niya (Labrador) sa akong nabuhat. Mapasaylo unta ko niya ug tabangi intawn ko og ampo nga dili nalang siya mupasaka og kaso kay naa man gud koy anak,” said Espiritu. (FREEMANNEWS)