MMDA burglar not after documents - Makati cops

MANILA, Philippines - The burglar who broke into the office of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino was not after documents, the Makati Police said Monday.

Makati Police chief, Sr. Supt. Manuel Lukban, said police found no documents from suspect Hilbert Mongkano, 22, jobless, of 601 ABA Building, Barangay Pinagkaisahan, Makati City.

“With the items recovered from him, the real intention was just to steal. Hindi trinabaho ang office ni Chairman Tolentino,” said Lukban.

Lukban said among the items seized from Mongkano when he was arrested by the agency’s security guards and police officers on Sunday afternoon were a comb, a watch, a coin bank and a lotion which were swiped from the desks of the agency’s employees and staff. The stolen items were contained in two bags, police said.

Lukban added that several checks with Mongkano as payee were also recovered from him. According to Lukban, the checks were stolen from Mongkano’s former landlord. Mongkano, said police, forged his landlord’s signatures on the checks.

Police said Mongkano had earlier served as a witness in the case of the stolen checks when it was reported to the Makati Police last December.

“He was able to describe how the checks were stolen but pointed to an unidentified man as the one who had stolen the checks from his landlord,” said Lukban.

Police also said Mongkano was positively identified as the man who broke into a computer shop, also in Makati City last December. No charges were filed as he was not identified by the victims.

Initial police investigation showed that Mongkano entered the MMDA building through an aircon duct opening at an office adjacent to Tolentino’s office. Once inside the building, Lukban said Mongkano began collecting valuables from the drawers and tables of the employees.

Mongkano, police said, then forced open the door of Tolentino’s office. Police also said Mongkano tried to pry open a vault left at Tolentino’s office by the agency’s former head, Bayani Fernando. The vault was intact, police said.

Lukban said Mongkano had planned the heist.

“Alam niya na MMDA office iyong pinasok niya. Pinag-aralan niya ang mga galaw ng mga tao sa MMDA at tinaon niya na walang tao,” said Lukban.

Lukban said the Makati Police are now readying a case of robbery against Mongkano. Police said Mongkano is facing a charge of robbery as he had used force to enter the MMDA’s premises.

Lukban also said Mongakano had acted alone during the heist.

“All the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene were all his. He had no accomplice,” said Lukban.

Earlier, Tolentino hinted that some documents from his office could have been taken by Mongkano after he found the drawers of his office table have been opened.

“Pati opisina ko ay nagulo ang lamesa. Nagkaroon ng lampshade sa ibabaw, e waka naman akong lampshade duon. So apparently, may mga tinitignan sya noong gabi at nangailangan ng ilaw,” said Tolentino in an interview over dzMM.

“Nakabukas ang mga drawers ko. Di ko pa na-account. Mukhang may hinahanap siya. Ang tingin ko, meron lang siyang hinahanap,”Tolentino added.