Australian, 3 Filipinos arrested in Las Piñas property case
Las Piñas police respond to a complaint against four suspects, including an Australian national, for allegedly illegally occupying a private residential property. (Photo courtesy of Las Piñas City Police)
An Australian and three Filipino men were arrested after allegedly occupying a private residential property and threatening its caretaker in Las Piñas City on June 23.
Las Piñas City Police chief Col. Ricky Neron identified the arrested suspects as Israel, 49, an Australian; Alberto, 58; Lowie, 56; and Jeffrey, 38. Another suspect, identified only as Art, escaped arrest and is now the subject of a police manhunt.
According to Neron, the incident occurred at around 8:30 a.m. on Veraville Drive, where the suspects allegedly entered and occupied the residential property owned by a 91-year-old man.
Police said the group threatened the property’s stay-in caretaker and ordered him to leave.
The suspects reportedly gave the caretaker P10,000, allegedly as transportation fare, while forcing him to vacate the premises.
The caretaker immediately informed the elderly property owner, whose authorized representative subsequently sought police assistance and filed a complaint.
Responding officers from the Pamplona Substation proceeded to the property to verify the report and found the suspects occupying the residence without authority.
Police said the suspects were ordered to vacate the property but refused to comply, prompting officers to arrest them for direct disobedience.
The arrested suspects were taken to the Las Piñas City Police custodial facility and are facing charges of Grave Coercion under Article 286 and Resistance and Disobedience to a Person in Authority or Its Agents under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code.