Man found hiding in Pasig courtroom’s ceiling

Tension gripped the people in Pasig City’s Hall of Justice building when an 18-year-old man was discovered hiding in the ceiling of the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Pasig City police chief Senior Superintendent Francisco Uyami Jr. clarified that no firearm or kitchen knife was recovered from the suspect, Marvin Villanueva, a resident of Pugad Baboy in Barangay Kapasigan.

Villanueva was nabbed at 10:30 a.m. while he was hiding in the ceiling of the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office on the eighth floor of the Hall of Justice.

Uyami said Police Officer 2 Rolando Lipata, who was filing a case before the prosecutor’s office, discovered Villanueva hiding in the ceiling of the office at about 10:30 a.m.

It was learned that several employees complained to Lipata that they have lost some personal belongings, including food items, from inside their office. Lipata reportedly checked the vicinity and discovered leftover food in the ceiling.

At the police station, Villanueva claimed he had been hiding in the ceiling since Monday. He said he managed to gain entry through an unattended fire escape at the back of the building.

Police believe Villanueva stole P100,000 from the prosecutor’s office several months ago. Villanueva was also arrested last year on robbery charges but the case against him was dismissed.

The suspect is now detained at the Pasig City police headquarters while charges of theft are being prepared against him.    – Non Alquitran