2 jailed for robbing school in Valenzuela

Two boys were locked up in jail after breaking into a public elementary school closed for the holidays and carting away a computer set early yesterday morning in Valenzuela City.

Superintendent Jose Marcelo, Valenzuela police chief, said one is a student at the Dalandanan High School while the other was an out-of-school youth, both 16 and residents of Barangay Pasolo, Valenzuela City.

The duo were spotted as they were getting out of the school premises with the loot at around four in the morning by barangay watchmen on patrol led by barangay chairman Rey Gandalio. The loot found in the suspects’ possession was estimated at around P30,000.

Police said the suspects destroyed several padlocks of several rooms, apparently looking for nothing specific except valuable items and equipment they could find that could be sold later. Probers said they found the ransacked rooms in disarray, with fresh paint splattered on the floors and walls.

Consuela Mendoza, school principal, told probers she is filing charges of robbery and damage to public property against the two minors. — Jerry Botial