17-year-old "thief" mauled

CEBU, Philippines - A 17-year-old suspected burglar was mauled by bystanders before he was arrested by a barangay tanod past 9 p.m. Friday in Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando town.

The minor suffered bruises all over his body after he was caught by an angry mob while he was trying to escape from the owner of a sari-sari store who was chasing him and his cohort.

Police Officer 3 Marjukim Misuari, desk officer of  San Fernando Police Station, said that the child carted away two wallets, which only had P70, from a sari-sari store owned by Carmencita Brillates.

Misuari said that while the owner was inside the house, she noticed a sound coming from the sari-sari store.

When she switched on the light, she noticed that the door of the store was destroyed and saw two persons running away from the store.

She shouted and called for help from the neighbors and the bystanders. The bystanders chased the two but only caught the 17-year-old, who ended up being mauled by the angry mob.

A few minutes later, a barangay tanod, who lived nearby, arrived and rescued the minor from the mob. The barangay tanod then arrested the minor and brought him to the police station.

But since the minor was injured, the police brought the child to the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City for a medical examination.

After the attending physician told police officers that the minor did not suffer any serious injuries, he was again brought to the police station.

The barangay tanod recovered the two wallets owned by Brillantes from the minor's possession, one was empty and the other one had P70.

The parents of the minor went to the police station and told the police officers that he is already 17 years old so they will endorse him to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office to determine if  he acted with discernment.

If found out by the social worker that he knew what he was doing, the minor would be charged with robbery.  (FREEMAN)