By Jann Reymund Tatad
SAN MIGUEL, Catanduanes - San Miguel Municipal Police Station (MPS), in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Virac, apprehended an abaca stripper who reportedly stole a bag containing millions in cash from a home in the area on Tuesday (March 10).
At around 11 a.m., San Miguel MPS received a report about a robbery from the victim identified as Vivian Almanza, a resident of the area.
The victim said she noticed that the padlock of the front door of her house was destroyed, and that a bag in her bedroom containing cash estimated at 2.2 million pesos was missing.
Initial investigation by San Miguel MPS found, through a witness, that the suspect was seen at the compound of the victim’s home at around 9 p.m. the previous night. However, the witness paid him no attention because the suspect is said to be the son of the caretaker of Almanza’s piggery.
The suspect was identified as Erwin Ralla, 35, a resident of Barangay Boton, San Miguel.
San Miguel MPS contacted PCG here to conduct search operations at the seaport for the possible arrest of the suspect.
According to Lt. Warren Quejencio of PCG-Virac, the suspect was already at the port when he went outside for a while, leaving the stolen backpack. The authorities then identified the backpack owned by the victim.
Ralla was then arrested by the authorities after a hot pursuit conducted at the Virac Seaport.
The authorities recovered one smartphone and cash amounting to P1.8 million.
Ralla is now in the custody of San Miguel MPS while a case for robbery is being filed against him.