Cops check ‘theft’ of British MP’s purse in QC hotel

A visiting member of the British parliament reported the loss of her purse and credit cards in a hotel room in Quezon City.

Helen Grant, 50, discovered the alleged theft Friday afternoon upon returning to her room at Sulo Riviera Hotel on Matalino Street, Barangay Central.

Case investigator SPO1 Ariel Eufemio of the Kamuning police substation said he had invited three hotel employees for questioning. He identified them as Ghener Ilagan, Gerwin Corbeta and Noriel Pangantihon.

Station commander Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo clarified that they were not yet being considered suspects.

In her report to the police, Grant said she lost her black purse containing two credit cards  and cash amounting to 115 euros and 20 British pounds.

The parliamentarian was staying at Room 12. She was in Manila with other European lawmakers for a study tour organized by the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development.

They were to visit urban poor communities in Metro Manila as part of the tour being hosted by the Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development, a group supporting the reproductive health bill.

Grant recalled that she left her purse in the room and locked the door when she left at 9:45 a.m. Friday for some appointments.

Upon her return at 4 p.m. that day, the legislator said, the purse was no longer on top of the table where she left it. Julie M. Aurelio