Police arrest 3 "pickpockets"

CEBU, Philippines - Three suspected pickpockets were arrested after being caught running away with their loot from jeepney passengers.

The three men were identified as Jerson Manlangit, 28; Jojo Rudis, 37; and Edgar Rabaca, 45; who are all staying at Laray, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City but are said to be natives of South Cotabato.

One of the victims, Marivel Balansag, 33, of Yati, Lilo-an, Cebu was able to recover her belongings after the three men victimized her yesterday morning. 

Balansag said she rode a 13C jeepney near Ayala Center Cebu to retrieve a police report from Parian Police Station for a previous theft case.

While traveling along Sikatuna, the three suspects boarded the PUJ with one of them sitting beside her.

Minutes after the three boarded, Balansag said one of the three men tried to distract her by asking questions.

The man on her left side allegedly touched her hair and said, “Naay hugaw ang imong buhok.” She didn’t pay attention but was already irritated.

When the three men disembarked from the PUJ at T. Padilla Street, the PUJ conductor told the passengers to check their bags and see if something was lost.

Balansag nervously opened her bag and found out that her two flash drives, cellular phone and black wallet containing P500 were already gone.

She immediately went down from the PUJ and followed the three men.

Luckily, an elderly man who disembarked ahead of the three suspects was able to report the incident to the police who requested for assistance from the Mobile Patrol Group and resulted in the arrest of the three suspects.

SPO2 Caruto Henry Estoy of the Theft and Robbery Section said this is not the first time that similar incidents happened saying most pickpockets intentionally distract their victims by asking directions or dropping coins while their accomplices take the loot.

The three suspects are now detained at CCPO while awaiting formal charges.  (FREEMAN)