Call center employee runs after robber

A young call center agent on her way home was robbed of her bag by a man as he alighted from the passenger jeep they both rode on MacArthur Highway in Malabon the other day.

PO2 Ananias Birad Jr., officer-on-case, identified the victim as Marian Moncerate, 22, of Marulas, Valenzuela City.

SPO1 Alfredo Mendez, Night Watch supervisor, together with Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) members Manolo Arguelles and Bonifacio Valientco, arrested suspect Benjamin Tiongco, 24, of Potrero, Malabon.

Records showed Moncerate sat at the rear portion of a northbound passenger jeepney cruising Macarthur Highway at around 12:30 a.m. when Tiongco attack. As the vehicle passed a dimly lit portion of the highway, the suspect, who posed as a passenger, ordered the driver to stop. As he alighted, Tiongco suddenly grabbed Moncerate’s pink shoulder bag and ran as fast as he could.

Moncerate, however, did not lose heart, jumped out of the jeepney and chased after Tiongco screaming her lungs out for help.

The commotion drew the attention of bystanders who spotted the fleeing Tiongco. They later cornered the suspect still clutching his loot and turned them over to the arresting officers.

Moncerate’s bag, which contained a digital camera worth P15,000, a cell phone about P10,000, a black wallet with cash and important documents, and a beauty kit, was recovered.

Tiongco has been slapped with a robbery charge before the City Prosecutors’ Office. – Jerry Botial