Nartatez lauds arrest of man tagged in robbing Japanese tourist in Parañaque
Police take into custody a 49-year old man who was tagged as in the robbery involving a 62-year old Japanese tourist in Parañaque City. (photo: PNP)
National police chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. lauded the arrest of a robbery hold-up suspect who victimized a Japanese tourist in Parañaque City.
Nartatez said the active police response is itself a crime deterrence as it usually translates to certainty of arrest similar to the case of the 49-year old suspect who did not also rob the 62-year old Japanese but also hurt the tourist.
“The quick and active police response and the certainty of arrest of those who violate the law are best anti-crime measures. In this case, your police were able to send a strong message that relentless pursuit will follow and law offenders are arrested and brought to justice,” said Nartatez.
The victim was bird-watching at a nearby wetland park along the shoreline area of the CAVITEX Access Road in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City when the suspect suddenly hit him on the head, causing him to stumble on Jan. 24.
The suspect then forcibly took the victim’s bag and fled as if nothing had happened.
The local police immediately responded to the incident after receiving a report from a concerned citizen who found the victim with a bloody head, clothes, and hat.
The suspect was apprehended with the help of CCTV backtracking and forward tracking, which prompted authorities to launch a hot-pursuit operation at the suspect’s location.
Police recovered from the suspect the stolen items including a sling bag, an iPhone 14, earpods, a Japanese passport, identification cards, an ATM card, a boarding pass, other personal items, and a wooden stick believed to have been used in the attack.
Nartatez said the local police have increased police visibility and patrols in the area and other nearby locations frequented by both locals and tourists to deter criminal activities.
“Public safety remains our top priority, and we will continue to strengthen preventive measures to avoid similar incidents,” he said.