Cousins caught attempting to rob grave

CEBU, Philippines - Two cousins were arrested for allegedly attempting to steal jewelries from one of the graves inside the Chinese Cemetery in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City last Friday afternoon.

Aldro Villafranca Toñacao, 19, and his cousin, Roel Toñacao Ambos, 18, who had been residing inside the cemetery, were arrested around 5:48 p.m. after personnel from Mabolo Police Station caught them standing over a grave with hammers and sharp weapons.

Police Chief Inspector Jacinto Mandal said that prior to the arrest, the station had received reports that the two suspects were behind a series of robbery incidents in the cemetery.

Mandal added that the two had been destroying the graves of Chinese nationals and stealing jewelry from their remains.

Mandal and his personnel had been making their rounds in the cemetery as part of the station’s intensified anti-criminality campaign when they spotted Toñacao and Ambos standing over a grave with their tools.

Mandal said it looked like the two were about to destroy the grave.

The suspects sensed the presence of Mandal’s team and ran away, leaving their tools behind.

Police chased them down and the two suspects were arrested.

A body search on Toñacao found assorted drug paraphernalia, while a kitchen knife was also recovered from Ambos.

The hammers and sharp weapons were confiscated and sent to the police station for inventory.

Police have yet to determine how many graves the two suspects have previously destroyed.

Both suspects are detained at the Mabolo Police Station pending the proper filing of charges against them.  —/JBB (FREEMAN)