3 robbery suspects arrested in Valenzuela

Three alleged bus robbers were arrested after they divested a passenger of his mobile phone Friday in Valenzuela City.

Valenzuela City police chief Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio identified the suspects as brothers Michael Dacles, 28, and Jimboy Dacles, 25; and their uncle Avelino Camna, 40, all residents of Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

Genesis de la Cruz, 28 told police he was riding in a Corinthian bus at around 3 a.m. on MacArthur Highway when he saw the man sitting beside him slash the pocket of his pants and take his mobile phone.

The man passed the phone to another man seated behind them. The man holding the phone stood up and told the bus driver to stop.

De la Cruz chased the second suspect but was blocked by another man, who told him to “just sit down or something would happen to you.” The two suspects walked down the bus.

The victim was able to seek help from police officers, led by Inspector Arsenio Francisco, who were conducting a checkpoint along the highway.

Michael was immediately arrested while Jimboy and Camna were caught while hiding behind an electric post in an effort to evade the police. De la Cruz’s cell phone was recovered from Jimboy.

The suspects were charged with highway robbery before the Valenzuela City prosecutor’s office. – Pete Laude