Man caught stealing from Noy cousin's car

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested yesterday a man who stole valuables from a car owned by a cousin of president-elect Benigno Aquino III in San Juan City yesterday.

The victim, Jose Lorenzo Aquino-Oreta, parked his car to pay his dentist on Annapolis street a short visit at 9 a.m. yesterday.

When he returned minutes later, he found one of his car windows had been forced open and his iPod and other valuables missing.

Oreta, son of former senator Tessie Aquino Oreta, reported the robbery to the San Juan City police.

Several hours later, a police team headed by Inspector Wilson Villaruel collared the suspect, Peter de la Cruz, 28.

Villaruel said De la Cruz admitted the crime, and that he was only forced to steal to buy medicine for his sick child.

Oreta accepted Dela Cruz’ apology but still filed theft and robbery charges against him.

Villaruel said this is not the first time Dela Cruz was arrested for the same offense.

“He was arrested in 2001. He cases the car, opens it using a fork and then helps himself to the valuables inside,” he said.