Bus passengers beat up pickpockets

MANILA, Philippines —  Four alleged pickpockets were arrested in an air-conditioned bus after their victims beat them up in Mandaluyong City Saturday.

Five cell phones, three wallets and a coin purse were seized from Ryan Canciller, 34; Mark Angelo de Guzman, 28; JunJun Ortiz, 31, and Reymark Ignacio, 28, said Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, director of the Eastern Police District.

Sapitula said the four men had already stolen from passengers of several buses when they were arrested. “We are calling on passengers who lost their cell phones inside buses to come forward and claim them from the Mandaluyong police,” he said.

Initial reports showed that the victims, Miguelito Purisima and Mark Saldi Perdiz, were inside a City Bus unit when they noticed the suspects stealing their personal belongings.

The victims, other passengers and the bus conductor detained the suspects and turned them over to the local police.

Sapitula said the four suspects are behind the theft cases on board air-conditioned buses plying EDSA.

He directed Senior Superintendent Joaquin Alva, Mandaluyong police chief, to file theft charges against the suspects before the city prosecutor’s office today.