Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso showed the suspects during his “Talk to the People” broadcast, where he detailed the separate cases, many of which were captured on video by netizens and dashcams.
Two of the suspects were linked to a violent attempted robbery along Road 10 (R-10) in Tondo.
Victims, a truck driver and his helper from Calamba, Laguna, recounted how the suspects climbed onto their closed van truck in the early hours of the morning and tried to grab their mobile phones.
One of the suspects was armed with a bladed weapon and attempted to stab the driver, who fought back and managed to block the attack, sustaining injuries in the process.
The suspects failed to take any valuables.
The victims have vowed to press charges, while the city government extended financial assistance.
In a separate incident, a minor was apprehended after allegedly snatching a cellphone from a female motorcycle passenger while stuck in traffic along R-10.
The act was captured on dashcams of nearby vehicles.
The minor has been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), while the recovered cellphone is now under police custody as evidence.
Meanwhile, the fourth suspect was arrested in Paco in connection with another snatching incident along Osmeña Highway.
Authorities said the suspect later admitted to committing at least two more snatching attempts after the initial crime.
The stolen cellphone had already been pawned for P3,000.
During the arrest, police also recovered a firearm from the suspect’s possession, which will be subjected to further investigation for possible violations of gun laws.
Most of the incidents occurred during the early morning hours in traffic-prone areas, raising concerns over opportunistic crimes targeting motorists.
City authorities assured the public that police visibility and operations have been intensified to prevent similar incidents.