MPD files raps vs phone snatchers

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the act of forgiveness from Silvestre Bello III, the Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday filed robbery charges against four minors who snatched the labor secretary’s cell phone.

On Monday, police presented the suspects to Bello at the Department of Labor and Employment office in Intramuros.

Bello did not press charges against the suspects and even offered them jobs to give them a chance to mend their ways.

But Maj. Joselito de Ocampo, chief of the MPD theft and robbery unit, said the suspects are not yet off the hook.

“Let the court decide on the case. Our mandate is to file charges against the suspects,” De Ocampo said.

He said the minors, aged 15 to 18, should not go unpunished.

“They were previously detained on various criminal offenses,” De Ocampo said.

Police said three of the suspects were members of a robbery group.

The 15-year-old boy who snatched Bello’s phone said it was his first time to be arrested.

Authorities tagged the suspects in a series of robberies in Manila.

Police also arrested Omar Sidic after he bought the stolen phone from the suspects for P25,000.

A complaint for violation of the anti-fencing law has been filed against Sidic.