2 women arrested

CEBU, Philippines - An eight-month pregnant woman and an alleged cohort were arrested by the owner of the house they broke into Monday afternoon at the Royale Cebu Estate Subdivision, barangay Casili, Consolacion town.

The pregnant Juliet Mangubat, 29, of barangay Pooc, Talisay City and Catherine Robles, 28, of barangay Labangon, Cebu City are now detained at the Consolacion stockade.

 Both women allegedly also victimized Sunday afternoon a couple in Sto. Niño Village, barangay Banilad, Mandaue City.

Chief Insp. Wilbert Parilla, Consolacion police chief, said Rafael Torres, 23, a native of Kibawe, Bukidnon, arrested the women with the help of residents at the Royale Cebu Estate Subdivision.

Torres said he was at the basement of the house to get his laundry when he saw Mangubat inside his house.

Torres said he rushed to Mangubat and asked who she was looking for.

The woman allegedly replied she was looking for a certain Sheila and hurriedly left.

Torres immediately checked his valuables and then found out his Samsung Galaxy phone worth P28,000, an Apple Ipod worth P17,000, and Sony Ericson phone P5,650 gone. This prompted him to run after the suspects.

“Gitawagan dayon nako ang guard nga ipa-hold kay nawagtang akong gamit,” he said.

After a brief interrogation, Torres recovered the black bag owned by the women where the valuables were placed.

A complainant from Mandaue City also claimed the same women entered her house without permission.

 Marivelo Ramirez and her husband had just arrived from shopping when she noticed the back door open.

A neighbor told them that a pregnant woman entered their house and left afterwards.

 Upon inventory Ramirez found out that their laptop, Ipad, cellular phones, and two watches worth almost P100,000 were missing.

She then went to the Consolacion police station when she was informed by the police that a pregnant woman was arrested.

For her part, Catherine claimed she met Juliet three weeks ago and she invited her to go to Consolacion to get cash from a certain Shiela.

“Wala gyud siya mag-ingon nga mangawat wa pud ko kahibalo ni-uban lang ko niya ato,” she said.

Parilla said Juliet has a pending arrest warrant for theft in Cebu City.

Criminal charges against the two women will be filed in court today. — (FREEMAN)