Village volunteer charged for P1M robbery at Indian temple in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila policemen filed robbery charges against a barangay volunteer for his alleged involvement in a P1 million robbery in an Indian temple on U. N. Avenue.

Intelligence officers of National Capital Region Police Office filed robbery in band, a non-bailable case, against Robert Ranillo of Barangay 116 on Thursday.

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Thursday, the suspect denied the charges, saying he was patrolling near Garcia street at the time policemen claimed he was at the Sikh temple— about 3 a.m. on December 1.

The robbers on board a motorcycle and Honda CRV broke into the Khalsadiwan Temple about 2 a.m. Temple president James Kumar said Ranillo was identified by their religious leader and security guards as one of those men.

They took the donation box, which the arresting officer, Police Officer 2 Gerry Navarro, had described to be as big as a coffin. Kumar said it contained roughly P1 million.

Ranillo was arrested in a manhunt operation that took place after Kumar filed a complaint.  SFM