CEBU, Philippines - A 17-year-old boy is facing charges before the court for allegedly stealing P18,700 worth of items inside the apartment owned by his relative.
The minor, whose name is being withheld, was held for trial by Cebu City Associate Prosecutor Jennifer Karen Alo-Leyson after finding probable cause for robbery.
The minor allegedly barged into the rented apartment of Reynaldo Galo in Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City at past 4 a.m. on August 11.
He reportedly stole a cell phone worth P7,000, a laptop worth P9,000, and P2,700 cashed owned by Galo.
In his affidavit, Galo said he was sleeping on the upper floor of the apartment when he was awakened by the theft alarm of the apartment owner.
He immediately went down and checked if a thief was able to enter his unit. He then discovered that the lock on the back door was forcibly detached.
He went back upstairs and found out that some of his things were already missing. The victim joined the apartment owner and other tenants in reviewing the footage of the closed-circuit television camera.
They found out that the thief was the relative of the apartment owner who lives at the back of the apartment.
Galo sought the assistance of barangay tanods and went to the house of the minor. They informed the boy’s mother who came out and met them about what happened.
She went inside the house to call her son and came back with the minor. The boy returned Galo’s items.
The mother also gave the butcher’s knife which the minor used to forcibly enter Galo’s unit.
The minor was apprehended by the barangay tanods and was turned over to the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of Mambaling Police Station.
The boy opted not to avail of his right to preliminary investigation during the inquest proceedings; hence his indictment.
Leyson recommended P24,000 bail against him. (FREEMAN)