3 robbery suspects nabbed in Mandaluyong

Three robbery suspects were arrested by the Mandaluyong City police during an intensified anti-crime campaign last week.

Arrested and charged with robbery before the Mandaluyong City prosecutor’s office were Michael de Vera, 24, a student; Erwin Reque, 28; and Nelson Maico, 48.

Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police said De Vera admitted robbing businesswoman Jacqueline Menor, 40, of P613,400 worth of jewelry and equipment.

Unknown to Menor, De Vera was a boyfriend of her housemaid for almost a year now.

Everytime Menor would spend the weekend in Laguna last month, De Vera would sleep at Menor’s house at 56-A Talumpong St., Barangay Malamig and took gold earrings and bracelets at the jewelry box placed at the side table of the master’s bedroom.

"At first the suspect took only small items so the victim failed to notice the robbery," said Velasquez.

Last week, Menor noticed that more than 40 pieces of jewelry and a video camera placed at the dining table were missing.

Menor reported the theft to the local police and Velasquez immediately invited her housemaid for questioning.

The housemaid broke down during tactical interrogation and led a team of Mandaluyong City police headed by SPO4 Hilario Cantoria Jr., to De Vera at his residence at 30-C Eulogia Drive, Balintawak, Quezon City.

De Vera gave himself up peacefully.

Velasquez said they recovered from De Vera’s possession assorted earrings, rings, necklaces, ladies perfume, cash in assorted denominations, a Nokia 3100 cellphone, a Panasonic disc and the video camera.

Meanwhile, Reque, a taho vendor, of Block 111 National Center for Mental Health compound in Barangay Mauway was arrested for snatching the Nokia 8250 cellphone and gray pouch bag of Jermalyn Abejo.

Reque was apprehended by responding policemen and bystanders during a brief chase along Blk. 5 Welfareville Compound in Barangay Addition Hills.

Another robber, Maico, was collared minutes after he grabbed at knifepoint the handbag of Maria Lina Gorospe, 25, during a robbery inside a Pasig-bound passenger jeepney.

Gorospe said Maico grabbed her bag while the passenger jeepney was cruising along Shaw Blvd. and Gen. Kalentong St.

Maico rushed out of the passenger jeepney and transferred to another jeepney bound for Pasig but was cornered by responding policemen. Velasquez said Reque and Maico were positively identified by the victims during a confrontation at his office. — Non Alquitran