Chocolate theft foiled
A man was arrested in Pasay City after shoplifting a box of chocolates from a mall, which he planned to give as a gift for Valentine's Day, police said Wednesday.
PO3 Catalino Gazmen Jr., case investigator, identified the man as Mervin Dotullo, 20, a resident of Dasmariñas, Cavite. Dotullo was arrested inside the SM Hypermarket of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City Tuesday night.
Initial investigation revealed that at 9:35 p.m. on Tuesday, the security guard Jorge Battung was monitoring the area when he spotted Dotullo slipping one pack of chocolates inside a plastic bag that he brought.
Battung immediately accosted Dotullo who hurriedly tried to get out of the supermarket. According to him, he intended to give the P600 chocolate to his mother for Valentine's Day.
He added that he was really mesmerized by the sight of the chocolate on the shelf and had the idea that he would give it to his mother for Valentine's Day if his attempt wasn't foiled by the guard on duty.
A case of theft has been filed against Dotullo. (Dhel Nazario)
Snatcher frustrated
A man was arrested after stealing a P15,000-phone from a jeepney driver in a snatching incident Wednesday in Manila.
PO2 Reyzen Ventura Del Rosario identified the suspect as Bernard Figueroa, 40, of 312-B Sandico St., Tondo, Manila, who is allegedly a member of Bahala Na Gang.
Police reports said that elements of Dagupan Outpost led by PO1 Jessie Bañares were patrolling along Raja Matanda St. corner Juan Luna St., Tondo, Manila on February 14 around 12:30 a.m. when they noticed a commotion.
The victim, identified as jeepney driver Jayson Apao, 25, of No. 29 Governor Pascual Avenue, Malabon City, was reportedly shouting, “Tulong, tulong! Snatcher! (Help, help! A snatcher!),” as he pointed towards the suspect.
Meanwhile, concerned citizens around the area got a hold of Figueroa as he tried to flee the scene.
Arresting officers apprehended the suspect upon being positively identified by Bañares.
The stolen item, a cell phone worth P15,000, was recovered.
Figueroa was brought to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center for his medical examination and subsequently to Moriones-Tondo Police Station. (Hans Amancio)
Couple arrested for drug peddling
A married couple, suspected to be drug peddlers, spent Valentine's Day behind bars following their arrest in a buy-bust operation Tuesday in Tondo, Manila.
PO2 Lalaine Almosa identified the suspects as Dante Battung, 44, of 5 Kamias St. corner C.P. Garcia St., Tondo ,Manila, and Marissa Battung, 43, of the same address.
Police reports said that elements of Station Drug Enforcement Team led by PCInsp. Rommel Salazar conducted a buy-bust operation on February 13 around 9 p.m. along Padre Rada St. near corner Road 10, Tondo, Manila, to arrest the suspects.
PO2 Alfren Custodia reportedly posed as a buyer and successfully bought a sachet of shabu from the suspects, using two pieces of P500-bills as buy-bust money.
Arresting officers immediately apprehended the suspects after the transaction. They were subsequently turned over to Moriones-Tondo Police Station.
The recovered drug evidence including six sachets of suspected shabu were submitted to Manila Police District-Crime Laboratory Office for examination and safe-keeping.
The suspects will face charges for violation of R.A. 9165, or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. (Hans Amancio)