‘Maid’ in robbery-’poisoning’ nabbed
By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:08:00 08/23/2008
Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice,Local authorities
MANILA, Philippines – A “housemaid” long wanted for a series of robbery in Manila was finally arrested Friday by Manila policemen.
Anamie Livrando, 30, a native of Cebu, was arrested by members of the Manila Police District Station 11 (Meisic) at her rented apartment on Duhat Street, Barangay Veterans Village, Project 7, Quezon City.
Supt. Nelson Yabut, Meisic station commander, said robbery and qualified theft charges would be filed against the suspect.
He said the suspect could also face attempted murder charges because some of her alleged victims were in critical condition after eating the food she apparently laced with harmful substances.
Yabut said Livrando was arrested following a tip from people who saw on television an artist’s sketch and photo of the suspect caught by a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera in a building rented by one of her victims.
The suspect, who used different aliases, reportedly admitted to police she was a member of a syndicate. Livrando pointed to Rita Manabat, who was also arrested during the operation, as the leader of the syndicate.
Police said they found the suspect’s belongings all packed up when they arrested her.
The modus operandi was to have Livrando apply as housemaid. Once hired, she would feed household members with food laced with poisonous substances, then rob her employers of cash and valuables.
The suspect befriended security guards and asked them to recommend her to people looking for a housemaid.
Livrando said Manabat sold the items she took, particularly the jewelry. “I only get 10 percent of the loot,” she told police, adding they usually put their potential victims under surveillance first.
Livrando said she used a white powder to poison her victims, mixing it with their food and drinks.
Yabut said the suspect had victimized several Chinese-Filipino families in the Binondo and Sta. Cruz area.
At the police station, the suspect was met by her irate victims. Alex Pua, of Binondo, said his children were confined in January at the intensive care unit of a hospital after eating adobo the suspect had prepared.
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