POLICE operatives recovered some P1 million worth of stolen jewelries and arrested the robbery suspect at Consolacion village, Cagayan de Oro City, Thursday, February 16.
Authorities identified the suspect as Edwin Namocatcat, 25, through a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from a nearby establishment of the victim's residence in Nazareth village.
The 64-year-old victim, who requested anonymity for her safety, said she was out from her house on Wednesday night together with her house help to attend church service when the robbery took place.
She later discovered that the doors and the safe box were opened and the jewelries like gold and diamond rings and necklaces, among others, kept inside have been carted away.
"Wala ko nag-expect kay sige naman gud ko lakaw ana nga oras kay magsimba uban sa akong working student. Lisod abrihan ang doors pero giayo gyud paglungkab," (I did not expect this to happen since I have frequently done this because I go to church with my working student. It's difficult to open the doors but the burglar really loosened the lock) she said.
Senior Inspector Julius Saluta, Police Station 9 chief, said the police was able to secure a CCTV footage, 9 a.m. on Thursday, and subsequently conducted a recovery operation after the suspect was identified.
Saluta said the two minor cohorts of the suspect remain at large as of Saturday and other stolen items have been pawned to several people in the village.
"Napasa-pasa na ang uban items sa silingan kay gikagubtan kay abi og fancy. Ang uban na-recover kay nakakuha man ta resibo, ang uban gipangita pa," (The items have been distributed to neighbors thinking they were fake jewelries. The others were recovered because we got receipts while we are still looking for the rest) Saluta said.
"Ang uban pud kay nahadlok, naa lang gisugo pag-uli sa mga items," (Others were scared so they asked someone else to return it) Saluta added.
The police station chief said the suspect was allegedly involved in illegal drug activities but Saluta said the suspect has been known for "Akyat-Bahay" offenses.
The victim on Saturday said she will no longer pursue the case due to humanitarian considerations but she lauded the successful recovery of her stolen jewelries.
"Grabe gyud ang effort sa police busa dako kaayo ang akong pasalamat," (I am very grateful to the police because they really did well) she said.
But she added she will not file a case "kay malooy ko kay nakita nako ilang kahimtang walang-wala man gyud,"(I saw their situation and it is really pitiful).
But, the victim warned that once the suspect falls again to the authorities for the same crime, she will press appropriate charges to put the suspect behind bars.
"Ipasulat gyud nako siya sa piskal nga mosaad siya nga magbag-o kay kung dili unya madakpan siya, apil ko mokaso na," (He will have to write a promise that he will really change, in the presence of the fiscal. And if he will repeat it, I will also file a case against him) she said.
Saluta said they will elevate the case to the prosecutor's office where the settlements are agreed upon by the two parties.
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