Lending company, home burglarized

CEBU, Philippines - Close to P160,000 worth of cash and items were carted away by unidentified men in two separate burglary incidents in the cities of Cebu and Carcar.

OCS Lending Incorpora-ted lost P111,230 worth of cash and checks after burglars broke into their office along Tupaz Street, Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City early morning Friday.

The unidentified men took away P99,030 in cash and two checks worth P21,200.

Based on initial investigation, the suspects entered by detaching glass windows and once inside, the suspects found the drawer where the company’s vault was located. They broke the vault using a “hard object,” took the money and exited thorough the main door.

Police investigation shows that the office was in fact the old office building of the company and the new office building was just near the area where the incident took place.

According to authorities, there were no closed-circuit television cameras in the building and no security guard was on duty.

Ongoing investigation though yielded fingerprints which police hope could lead to the identification of the suspects.

 Meanwhile, a woman lost close to P46,000 worth of items to her neighbor who broke into her house in Carcar City Thursday morning.

Maria Concepcion Marcia Wamar, 49, a resident of Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City, came home from work as a cashier in Mandaue City when she found out that the lower lock of her back door was forced open.

When she checked inside, a number of items were already missing, including one video camera worth P20,000 which was inside a bag, a pair of earrings worth P3,000, one gold necklace worth P8,000, two wristwatches worth P7,000 each and P600 in cash.

According to Police Offi-cer 1 Lauro Laurel, Wamar said a person saw a man bringing the victim’s camera bag.

The witness identified the man as Wilfredo Sierra Bongcawel alias “Timoy,” 34, and a resident of the same place. The police conducted a follow-up operation but Bongcawel reportedly escaped.

“Robber” arrested

A suspected robber was arrested by the police in a hot pursuit operation past 4 p.m. on Friday in Barangay Palanas, Alcantara town after the sales agent of a distributing company identified him as one of the two armed men who robbed them on Thursday.

Jerrymie Pulgo Gacquing, 30, of Barangay Lanao, Moalboal, was arrested after the police confiscated from him a .357 homemade revolver and a small pack of suspected shabu.

Police Officer 2 Daryll Linda, desk officer of Alcantara Police Station, said robbery victim Arnel Tagalog, a sales agent of Dranix, identified the suspect through the rogues’ gallery.

Linda said that Alcantara and Moalboal police conducted a joint operation to locate Gacquing. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento, Bryner L. Diaz and Peje Marvic C. Apas, Rushel C. Sayaboc,  CIT-U Interns  (FREEMAN)