AUTHORITIES arrested a male suspect for stealing the cellular phones of some athletes of the Palarong Pambansa 2019 inside their billeting quarters in Calinan Central Elementary School on Thursday morning, May 2.
Based on the police report, the suspect was identified as Ariel Robles Detomas, 24, a resident of Purok 23 Bagobo Village, Acacia Calinan. Some boxing student athletes from Cagayan de Oro City reported their phones have gone missing while they were asleep.
Police Major Archimedes Wesley, Calinan Police Station commander, said the suspect took advantage of the rainy season and broke into the area where the students were sleeping around 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. They entered the school premises through the back fence.
The students reported the incident to the duty police assigned at the school and lodged a blotter to Calinan police station. After a tip from the residents and during the follow up operation the suspect was apprehended. Detomas said he was not alone when he carried out the crime. There are two other people who are suspected to have aided Detomas and are still at large.
Recovered from his possession are three cellular phones and a knife but Wesley said two more phones are in the hands of his cohorts.
An inquest proceedings took place on Thursday for robbery and violation of Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines (Batas Pambansa Bilang 881) for carrying bladed weapon.
Wesley added Detomas was arrested before for robbery but he was released.
Following the incident, Wesley ordered his personnel to strengthen their security monitoring inside the billeting quarters to prevent a repeat of the incident and protect the athletes from criminals.
“Ang pinag-igting ko [ang security measure] pa-pwestohan na sa likod para mabantayan ang likuran kung saan pwede makaakyata ng mga magnanakaw,” he said.
Meanwhile, ongoing pursuit operation is conducted.
After the filing of cases, the cellphones of the athletes will be returned.