Raps filed agaisnt 9 ‘thieves’ from Luzon

CEBU, Philippines - The nine men and women from Luzon who were arrested after the Sinulog Grand Parade for pickpocketing are now facing complaint before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. 

Cebu City Police Office’s Theft and Robbery Section yesterday sued Guillermo Diaz, 33; Arvin Jan Ballesteros, 22; Renz Boncalan, 26; Cindy Mercado; Carla Santos, 23; May Vilasco, 25; Adrian Lopez, 34; Cris Fernandez, 23; and Charizze Adriano, 24 for theft.

 The complaint was handled by state prosecutor Russell Busico.  Some of the suspects, allegedly belong to a syndicate of pickpockets from Luzon, were from Taguig City while others were from Makati City and Pasay City.

TRS chief Senior Inspector Rolito Supatan has said it was Diaz who was first arrested after citizens collared him for allegedly victimizing a certain Kara Lim. 

Lim allegedly lost her iPhone 6 at Mango Square along General Maxilom Avenue on January 17, 2016 at around 6 p.m. 

During the investigation, Supatan learned from Diaz that his cohorts were staying at a pension house at the North Reclamation Area in Barangay Carreta. 

Supatan said they were able to arrest the other suspects in a follow-up operation.

Authorities were able to recover several identification cards, ATM cards and wallets. — (FREEMAN)