Trader, teacher lose valuables to burglars

A businesswoman and a high school teacher lost around P850,000 in cash and valuables in separate robbery incidents in Valenzuela and Navotas cities on Sunday.

Raquel Cajanding told Valenzuela police that she lost a vault containing P250,000 in cash, $600 (roughly P25,000) in cash, jewelry worth about P400,000, seven land titles and a fire insurance policy. She said she discovered the loss on Sunday at 10 a.m. after she arrived at her house on Don Pedro Street, Barangay (village) Marulas.

Two witnesses pointed to Ramin Cajanding, the victim’s younger brother, as the suspect. The witnesses said they saw the suspect using a saw to remove the padlock of the victim’s apartment. Police went to Ramil’s house in Barangay Rincon, but neighbors said he and his family hastily left their house on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, in Navotas, Cecilia de Ocampo, a head teacher at San Roque National High School, reported that thieves stole about P175,000 worth of cash and valuables from her house along R. Padilla Street, Barangay San Jose. The victim said she left her house to attend a birthday party, but when she returned, she noticed that the padlock on the steel gate and the wooden door were broken. Police have yet to identify a suspect in the incident.—Nathaniel R. Melican