ELECTIONS chairman George Garcia lost his bag to thieves in a Pasay restaurant on Tuesday afternoon after he attended a Senate hearing on the proposal seeking to ban political dynasties in the country.
A report from the Southern Police District said six suspects entered the restaurant located along Roxas Boulevard in Brgy.10 at around 1 p.m. and posed as customers.
“Taking advantage of the situation, the suspects managed to steal the victim’s bag, which was placed beside his chair. A few moments later, the victim discovered that his bag was missing,” the police report said, adding that Garcia’s security escorts tried to run after the suspects after discovering the theft, but they managed to flee on board a vehicle.
The police identified, through the help of CCTV footage, three of the suspects by their aliases as “Alberto”, “Romson”, and “Jun.”
The suspects, according to the police report, were previously involved in similar incidents in the city and have been the subject of manhunt operations.
“The Pasay City Police Station immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation coupled with a dragnet operation for the possible arrest of the suspects. As of this writing, the operation is still ongoing,” the SPD said.
A report aired over radio DZBB quoted Garcia as saying the bag contained some cash, identification cards, and a cellular phone.
It said the Comelec chair assured the public that the cellular phone contained no important or sensitive information as he rarely uses it.
In a brief statement, Garcia said: “Bad people don’t choose any place or time. You really have to be alert at all times.”
Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano said she has already directed Pasay police chief Col. Joselito Desesto to find and arrest the suspects.
“Upon receiving reports of the unfortunate incident involving Comelec chairman George Garcia, I immediately called Police Col. Joselito Desesto to address this matter with the utmost urgency. I have given stern instructions to ensure a thorough investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Calixto-Rubiano said when sought for comment.
She added the Pasay police is “fully engaged” in tracking down the suspects. – With Gerard Naval
