Maid foils robbery at actress' house

MANILA, Philippines - A maid working for actress and television host Julia Clarete foiled an alleged attempt by a teenage scavenger to rob her employer’s house in Barangay Mariana, Quezon City yesterday.

According to a report by Galas station chief Superintendent Edgardo Pamittan said that at around 2:30 a.m., suspect Joey Bustos, 19, scaled the fence surrounding Clarete’s house, and squeezed through a small ventilation window of the third-floor bathroom.

Jovita Sucatre, 48, was roused from sleep by the noise Bustos created as he went through the window. When she opened the bathroom, she found an equally surprised Bustos staring at her, his arms full of items taken from the Clarete residence.

Sucatre shouted for help and Bustos dropped everything he held and bolted for the bathroom window.

However, Angelo Gilbuena, 25, a staff of a city councilor, was passing by and helped catch Bustos, who is detained at the Galas police holding cell.

Bustos was charged with trespassing and attempted robbery before the city prosecutor’s office yesterday.         – Jerry Botial