BY MINKA KLAUDIA S. TIANGCO
Police arrested on Sunday four persons who snatched the mobile phone of Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III in Ermita, Manila, last Friday.
Investigation showed that Bello was using his phone at the passenger side of his car with the window open on P. Burgos Street near Mehan Garden at around 7:15 p.m. on Friday when four people, some of them minors, snatched Bello’s phone.
They fled on foot southwards P. Burgos Street, police said.
The four snatchers were arrested by operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) two days after.
The arrested suspects are under the custody of the MPD theft and robbery section.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said they will also arrest those who will buy Bello’s phone, even if the sale does not happen within the city.
Domagoso also renewed his warning to criminals to stay away from Manila.
“Kung gusto ninyo mamatay sa puyat dahil hindi namin kayo patutulugin, hindi kayo mabubuhay nang normal ‘pag gumawa kayo ng krimen sa Maynila,” he said in his speech during the city’s regular flag-raising ceremony on Monday.
“We will go after you, we will pursue you… we will spend every single cent of all the resources of the Manila city government and Manila Police District strength,” he added.
