3 nabbed for stealing rice intended for indigents

LAGUNA, Philippines — Two security guards and a businessman were arrested in Calamba City on Tuesday for stealing 52 sacks of rice worth P150,000 intended for various cooperative groups and poor families.

Adonis Apalla, 33, and Freddie Basejan, 35, who were detailed at the city hall, were arrested in Barangay Parian. Raymund Bernal, who bought the stolen rice, was apprehended in Barangay Real.

Bernal was charged with violation of the Anti-Fencing Law while Apalla and Basejan were charged with theft.

Closed-circuit television camera footage showed the two security guards taking the sacks of rice stored in front of the livelihood and cooperative office at the city hall on Aug. 4, 5 and 9.