Cell phone snatcher gets 8 years in prison

MANILA, Philippines - A man was sentenced to eight years in prison for snatching a mobile phone from a woman in Mandaluyong City two years ago.

Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 213 found Jaylord Mendiola guilty of snatching the Nokia 2600 cell phone of Gigi Sagayaga worth P3,000.

Sagayaga, her boyfriend Mark John Anriola and sister Gemma were walking along Hilaga strret in Barangay Barangka on Feb. 14, 2013 when Mendiola grabbed her mobile phone.

The three tried to fight off Mendiola but he brandished a knife, prompting Sagayaga to let go of her phone. Mendiola was about to escape when he was nabbed by patrolling village watchmen.