MABALACAT CITY – A news editor of local business paper in Angeles City was hurt when riding-in-tandem suspects snatched her bag sending her to the pavement late night Sunday at Barangay Dau here.
Minerva Zamora Arceo, 40, of Central Luzon BusinessWeek, and resident of Jade Street, Mansfield Residences, Bgy. Sto. Domingo, Angeles City, suffered bruises in her arm after she was dragged on the ground by the suspects.
“Nakahawak ako sa bag ng hablutin ng mga suspek kaya ako nadapa at makaladkad,” said Arceo in vernacular while narrating her scary experience to other members of the local media.
Arceo, a regular member of the Pampanga Press Club (PPC), said she was with four other companions supervising the putting up of tarpaulins along the busy intersection, few meters away from a refilling station, when the suspects suddenly stopped behind and forcibly grabbed my bag.
Police said Arceo was out-balance and sent to the pavement when she resisted while the suspects were trying to accelerate the motorcycle.
Arceo said the suspects successfully took her bag carrying different identification cards including Social Security System (SSS), University of the Philippines (UP), TIEZA, press cards and automated teller machine (ATM) , Paymaya debit card, motor vehicle duplicate key and P3,100 cash.
She described one of the suspects as medium built, about 5’3” tall, sporting pink shirt and jeans and slippers.
The suspects fled towards nearby Bgy. Duquit, Mabalacat City.
Over in Camp Olivas, the regional information office issued a press release announcing the arrest of three alleged riding-in-tandem suspects in City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.
Police said the suspects were flaged down by policemen manning checkpoint at Bgy. Fatima V, CSJDM on board two motorcycles. The suspects tried to evade the checkpoint that prompted the lawmen to chase them and were cornered moments later.
The suspects were identified as Kenneth Quinitana 18, of Brgy. Minuyan Proper, CSJDM, Bulacan, John Carlo Diaz, 18, of Brgy. Fatima 3, CSJDM Bulacan.
One of the suspects, according to police report is a teener.
Recovered from their possession were seven (7) medium size heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected dried marijuana leaves weighing 10g with street value of Php5,000.00 and the two (2) motorcycles without plate number.