Two weekend burglary cases

CEBU, Philippines - Burglars carted away at least P100,000 worth of valuables from a unit of Planters Apartment in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City last Saturday dawn.

Mary Ann Arpon, 28, married, admitted that she had noticed the burglars inside her apartment but fear reportedly kept her inside her room. She was alone at that time.

The incident happened around 3:30 am and she informed the police about the incident at around 11am.

A hot pursuit operation resulted to the arrest of Roberto Villeta Jr., 30, and Jerry Ragudos, 27. Both are residents of Barangay Cansojong. Arpon positively identified the two as the ones who went into her apartment. She reportedly got a glimpse of their faces as the two were on their way out.

PO3 Juanito Makabenta of the Talisay Police said the suspects entered the apartment by climbing up the terrace at the second floor. They then destroyed the doorknob to enter the building.

When suspects left, Arpon went through her things and found several items missing, including a laptop worth P36,000; an Ipod worth P25,000; a Samsung Galaxy II phone P30,000; a camera worth P15,000; and a wallet containing assorted identification cards and ATM cards, as well as P800 cash.

The two suspects denied any involvement in the crime. Police will file formal robbery charges against them tomorrow.

Villeta first identified himself as “Tukob Villeta” and Ragudos first identified himself as “Jerry Bukol” but police came to know of their real names after investigation.

Also last Saturday, a businesswoman lost P150,000 worth of jewelry and gadgets to two unidentified burglars who went into her room in Barangay Zapatera.

Witnesses said two dark-skinned men with medium built and about 5’7” tall entered the room occupied by Rosalia Alfafara, 64, at the second floor of the Natividad Centrum 1 near the Sacred Heart Church along D. Jakosalem St around 4:30 pm.

Alfafara lost a yellow gold necklace worth P50,000 and 11 more jewelry pieces placed inside jewelry boxes, all amounting to P75,000. She also lost a laptop worth $300 and two cellular phones worth P11,500.

Ocular investigation showed that the burglars entered the room by destroying the doorknob. — (FREEMAN)