Burglars break into QC chapel; 3 houses, 2 shops also hit

MANILA, Philippines - A total of P500,000 in cash and valuables were stolen in six separate burglaries, including a chapel, in Quezon City that were discovered Sunday.

Police Officer 2 Harry Budomo said a break-in happened at St. Joseph Chapel in Napocor Village in Barangay Pasong Tamo.

Fr. William Ong, 46, discovered the burglary at past 8 a.m. when he saw the knob on the front door destroyed. He told police that the burglars were able to take at least P15,000 and a mobile phone.

Burglars were also able to break into the houses of Dr. Hermigilda Villafuerte, 51, in GSIS Village, Barangay Sangandaan; and Dr. Rommel Estillore, 39, in Barangay East Kamias.

Budomo said Villafuerte discovered the burglary at around 5 a.m. as she saw the front window grills and the front door’s padlock destroyed. Members of the household were said to be asleep when the suspects took away a laptop computer; a Kodak digital camera; and a mobile phone.

On the other hand, Estillore said he lost P50,000; a Panasonic digital camera; and pieces of jewelry worth P30,000. He discovered the burglary when he and his family arrived home at around 10 a.m. and found the knob on the front door destroyed.

Burglars had apparently broken into the Radians Software Solutions shop at the Aiza Building along Mindanao Avenue in Barangay Bahay Toro. Employee Joshua Tiu told police the burglars took two old Celeron desktops, each worth P15,000; four dual core desktops, each worth P25,000; two Mac laptops, each worth P75,000; a 32-inch LCD television, P32,000; blank DVDs, P990; a gym bag, P5,000; and an original DVD, P500.

He said he discovered the burglary at around 5 a.m. when he saw the padlock destroyed. A concerned citizen saw two taxis parked in front of the shop before the burglary was discovered.

There were also break-ins at the house of Mila Crisostomo, 71, and the store of Jerry Cafranca, 30.

Crisostomo, of Barangay Pag-Asa, said burglars destroyed the back door. She saw two fleeing burglars after being awakened from sleep at around 4 a.m. She lost jewelry worth P20,000; a mobile phone; P1,000 and $800; and a portable DVD player.

Cafranca, of Barangay Quirino, said burglars stole jewelry worth P50,000; P5,600; and a mobile phone. He said he left the store locked that morning but when he returned at around 10 a.m. he saw the store’s window forced open.