4 theft suspects demand sex for stolen bag

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested Saturday four persons who allegedly demanded sex from a Korean woman in exchange for the return of a bag they stole from her at a bar in Pasig City.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo said suspects Raymund Ryan Cruz, 25; Michael Angelo Obligado, 25; Ariane Mapa, 20; and Karen Ramos, 21, all residents of 48 Lopez Jaena street in Barangay San Jose did not resist arrest.

Manalo ordered the filing of robbery charges against the suspects, who are currently detained at the EPD annex detention center.

The victim, Park Shin Young, 22, a student and resident of the Interna-tional Center Dormitory at the University of the Philippines’ campus in Diliman, Quezon City, said she lost her handbag at a bar along Meralco Avenue at about 11 p.m. Friday.

Inspector Diomedes Labarda of the EPD criminal investigation unit (CIU) said Park left her bag on a table to dance with a partner and was surprised when she returned minutes later that her bag was missing.

Park told Labarda that her bag contained a digital camera, $200, her cell phone and important documents.

Using her companion’s cell phone, Park called up her own phone. She said a woman answered that she could have her bag back in exchange for P15,000, which the victim turned down.

When Park called up her number a second time, a man – later identified as Cruz – told her that her bag would be returned to her if she agreed to have sex with him. Park agreed to meet with Cruz at a mall in Mandaluyong City.

She reported the crime to Manalo, who sent police officers to arrest the suspects once they approached Park.

Manalo ordered his men to recover the bag the suspects took from the victim.