Indians ‘steal’ councilor’s shih tzu

CEBU, Philippines- Three Indian nationals will be facing charges for allegedly stealing a dog owned by a Talisay City councilor.

The incident took place in Aqua Cainta, a resort owned by the Councilor Doroteo Emit's family in Barangay Pooc last Sunday evening.

The suspects were identified as Rajinder Singh, Gurinderpal Singh and Bhanot Deepak, who are their regular customers at the resort.

Emit, who personally appeared at the Talisay City Police Station, said his shih tzu princess type dog worth P25,000 was lost that night.

He claimed that when he reviewed CCTV camera footage, he discovered that the Indian nationals were responsible for "stealing" his dog.

The suspects were trying to drag the dog outside the resort's gate, Emit said.

"Kaila na baya mi ani nila kay sige man ni sila og ligo sa among resort pero ila gyud nga gituyuan," said Gennie Jean Emit, daughter of the city official.

In a separate interview, Senior Police Officer 1 Mikie Espina said there were five Indian nationals seen on the CCTV file but only three of them carted the dog away using the motorcycle.

At around 6:30 a.m. yesterday, Espina, together with his colleague, located Rajinder in Villa Solana, few meters away from the resort.

Espina said Rajinder helped them locate the two other suspects living in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City but when they went to Lapu-Lapu, police authorities failed to recover the dog.

Separately, Rajinder said they were drunk and just having fun in taking the dog but the animal allegedly jumped off the motorcycle while they were crossing Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

According to Gennie Jean, her mother cried after watching the CCTV since they allegedly kicked the dog.

"Dili man gani mi mubun-og sa iro bisag unsa pa iyang gub-on nga butang," the daughter said.

Even if the suspects will ask for an apology and pay the dog, the family will push through with the filing of charges against them.