Teener arrested for theft

MANILA, Philippines - A 13-year-old boy and his two alleged adult cohorts were arrested by patrolling policemen for stealing 200,000 yen (approximately P100,000) from a Japanese tourist in Ermita, Manila yesterday afternoon.

Roxanne Kakiuchi, 21, a Filipina married to a Japanese engineer said she and her husband were looking for foreign exchange shops along Ermita, Manila when they were mobbed by a group of males each offering higher exchange rates.

It was at this juncture when the boy dipped into the front pocket of the Japanese and ran away with 20 bills each with denomination of 10,000 yen. Two patrolling policemen, SPO1 Ernesto Macaraeg and PO2 Margarito Dequito, noticed the commotion and ran after the boy who was collared at a dead end street. Police also arrested Joseph Roxas, 28, and Cesar Mercado, 31, as his cohorts in his criminal activities.

The boy is part of a group of young robbers and snatchers preying mostly on foreigners along the city’s Tourist Belt Area, according to Chief Inspector Arturo Paras who heads the crimes against property section of the Manila Police District.