The three men and two minors were arrested after stealing more than 30 laptops from a school in Barangay 905, Sta. Ana, Manila. According to police, the group entered the school during the height of the typhoon and took 32 government-owned laptops and 2 personal belongings of teachers.
The school only found out about the loss of the laptops after the typhoon. According to Kagawad Edwin Zambrona, the suspects entered the school several times through a hole in the back wall. Teachers discovered the items missing on July 29, prompting the police to investigate. It was also found that the door of the faculty room was broken and the steel cabinet had been opened.
A barangay guard saw five men carrying a sack near the school wall. When approached, they walked but suddenly ran. As a result, the police conducted a follow-up operation and arrested the suspects on the same day. Three men aged 19, 23, and 35, as well as two minors aged 15 and 17, were caught.
According to the investigation, minors were the masterminds of the theft. The group is said to have sold or pawned the laptops. One of the suspects defended himself, “I was just a friend of mine.” Another suspect admitted that he sold the laptop for ₱1,000. The stolen equipment was worth ₱1.2 million.
Police recovered 7 laptops—two belonging to the teacher, and five to the government. Investigations are ongoing to find the remaining laptops. The three men are in custody and facing robbery charges. The two minors were brought to the DSWD. Police reminder: Do not buy laptops without a receipt or proof of ownership to avoid the Anti-Fencing Law.
