Grandson of hardware store owner in QC arrested for P18-M burglary

MANILA, Philippines — A closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera helped catch one of three men who allegedly stole P18-million worth of cash and jewelry from a house in Quezon City Saturday night.

The alleged thieves were not caught on video but one of them, the 73-year-old victim’s grandson, was seen suspiciously covering the lens of a CCTV camera of the house, leading to his arrest.

Police identified the arrested suspect as David Ong, 21, of Geronimo Street, Barangay Tandang Sora.

Recovered from Ong were several pieces of gold and diamond jewelry, which he allegedly took from the house of his grandfather Roberto Geronimo, a hardware store owner, on Tandang Sora Avenue.

SPO1 Cristituto Zaldarriaga, of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), said the elder Geronimo was not at home when the burglary took place.

Investigation showed that only housemaids Teodola Bacohod and Mary Rose Bastida were inside the house when the burglars struck.

Police said that at about 10 p.m., Bastida saw Ong  put a bullcap on the lens of the CCTV camera outside the main door of the house. Ong then allegedly used a rock to break a window near the door.

Suspicious, the helper immediately sought help from the Tandang Sora Barangay Peace, Security and Order (BPSO) office.

Barangay (village) watchmen responded but by the time the BPSO officers arrived, two of the robbers had fled through the roof of the master’s bedroom, which they destroyed.

Ong was accosted by BPSO personnel near the house and when frisked, yielded a gold ring, three sets of diamond earrings, a pearl necklace, and a watch. Barangay officers subsequently turned him over to the police.

The two other burglars reportedly fled with cash and jewelry worth about P18 million.

At the QCPD-CIDU holding cell, Ong denied to the Philippine Daily Inquirer that he took part in the burglary.

Police said they were set to file robbery charges against Ong before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.