Man indicted for “theft”

CEBU, Philippines - A 54-year-old man is facing charges before the court for allegedly stealing P18,650 worth of cash and personal items from a woman at the Freedom Park in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

 Cebu City Prosecutor III Rhodna Bacatan held Lito Manatad, a resident of Barangay Ermita, for trial after finding probable cause to charge him with theft.

 Manatad allegedly stole the plastic bag of Rosenda Arnado, 56, of Liloan, Cebu, around 11 a.m. on August 23.

 Arnado’s bag contained P10,000 cash, a bag with two cell phones worth P4,000 each, a watch worth P500, and an umbrella worth P150.

 Arnado, who is a fish vendor at Carbon Public Market, narrated that while she was at Freedom Park, she sat on a bench where she put the plastic bag beside her. Arnado said her friend, Helen Montejo, called her to pull out her gray hair.

 But Arnado said that later on, she fell into a nap and when she woke up, her plastic bag was already gone.

 Arnado reportedly asked Montejo if she saw the plastic bag beside her. Montejo told her that she saw Manatad take the bag but she did not react, thinking that he was the owner.

 Arnado and Montejo looked for Manatad and saw him in a flower shop in the area. Montejo positively identified him as the one who took Arnado’s bag while she was asleep.

 Manatad allegedly told Arnado that he would return the bag if the latter would give him money to buy liquor.

 Manatad was then apprehended by virtue of citizen’s arrest and was turned over to the Carbon Police Station.

 During the inquest proceedings, Manatad opted not to submit a counter-affidavit to answer the allegations against him.

 Instead, he manifested to face charges in court.

 Bacatan recommended P30,000 bail for the temporary liberty of Manatad.— /ATO (FREEMAN)