Three burglary cases recorded on eve of Mandaue City fiesta

CEBU, Philippines - Three burglaries occurred in Mandaue City on the eve of its city fiesta celebration.

First to fall victims in the hands of the "akyat bahay" gang were three medical course interns who were having their internship in Barangay Paknaan.

The victims lost their expensive personal belongings and cash to unknown victims on Wednesday dawn.

The victims were identified as Mark Oswald Verdida, 25, of Villa Leyson Village, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City; Junrey Go, 23, of Country Home Village in  Barangay Banawa, Cebu City; and  John Joseph Diaz of Pelaez Extension, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Cebu City.

Senior Police Officer 1 Edmund Bilacora of Basak Police Station of the Mandaue City Police Office said the three were living in a cottage inside the compound of Velez Hospital in Barangay Paknaan and the suspects were able to gain entry by forcibly opening the doorknob at the backdoor of their cottage.

Verdida lost his opthalmoscope kit worth P18,000, Oakley sunglasses worth P10,000, Jansport bag worth P10,000, Guess watch worth P7,000, and cash worth P7,000.

Diaz lost his Samsung laptop worth P30,000, Nexis tablet worth P15,000, Puma watch worth P5,000 and P7,000 cash, while Go lost two earphones worth P3,000.

Another victim of burglary was Rodney Cabahug, 31, of Block 3, Lot 8, Dream Homes Executive Building on H. Abellana Street, Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City.

Bilacora said the unknown suspects were able to gain entry into the victim's house by forcibly destroying the doorknob of the front door. The suspect carted away his laptop, earrings, watch and P10,000 cash.

Meanwhile, another suspect was arrested by a market guard of the Barangay Centro after being caught in the act of burglarizing a stall past 2 a.m. yesterday.

Jerome Igot is now detained at the Centro Police Station after he was caught in the act of carrying 30 kilos of brown sugar which he took from the stall owned by Jesus Laxamana, 49, a resident of Barangay Paknaan.

He was caught by Rodolfo Manatad, a market guard while carrying the sack of sugar and was on his way to sell it while. A cash of P1,200 was also taken from his possession.

During investigation it was found out that the suspect was able to gain entry at the stall by destroying the wall.  (FREEMAN)