QC cops chase, catch phone snatching suspect

Police officers shot and wounded a man who allegedly stole the cell phone of a woman standing at the corner of a busy street in Quezon City on Sunday.

Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel, Quezon City police chief, said that Alexis Santiago snatched the phone of Jessa dela Coste who was waiting for a friend at the corner of Edsa and Kamuning Road at 11:15 p.m.

Dela Coste immediately asked for help from two Galas station policemen — PO1 Florjoe Padilla and PO1 Richard Abuan — who were then in their patrol car and helping the victim of a vehicular accident.

Back to the crime scene

Esquivel said that when the policemen accompanied Dela Coste to the crime scene, she spotted the suspect who ran.

A chase ensued, with the 32-year-old suspect cornered on nearby Kamias Road corner K-H Street.

But instead of surrendering, Santiago allegedly took out a gun, prompting Abuan to shoot first, hitting the suspect.

The police recovered from Santiago, who was taken to a nearby hospital, his victim’s cell phone worth P12,000 and a .38-caliber revolver.

Esquivel commended Padilla and Abuan for their actions which, according to him, were “worthy of emulation.”