QUEZON CITY: A snatcher who returned the cellular phone he grabbed from a teenage girl after being conscience stricken was arrested by the police right after he handed over the mobile unit yesterday morning. Arrested was Bernabe Baldecase, 30, of Pasig City. Police said the snatching incident occurred at around 9 a.m. along the overpass of Ever Gotesco on Commonwealth Avenue. Victim Rowena Pamer, 19, was shocked as Baldecase approached her just a few minutes after the man snatched her cell phone. Asked why he returned the phone to its owner, Baldecase said that he was bothered by his conscience: "Binabagabag na ako ng aking konsensiya, siguro panahon na para ako ay magbago kaya naisip ko na isoli ko ang ninakaw ko." The police said they pounced on the suspect when they noticed a commotion and closed in to investigate what was happening. (Rico C. Navarro)

VALENZUELA CITY: A 35-year-old cashier of an off-track betting station became the latest victim of muggers operating in the busy MacArthur Highway. Police said Evelyn Enero of 281 Karuhatan lost the betting station’s R17,000 earnings to the lone holdup man who casually fled after the incident. Initial reports showed that Enero was walking in front of the Asia Trust Bank near her house when the suspect, armed with a .38 caliber revolver, approached her and announced the holdup. Residents in the area, which is considered a premier business district in the city, said muggers roamed the area with seeming impunity because of lack of policemen. (Willie L. Catapat)

PASAY CITY: A suspected snatcher was arrested Tuesday night by the police after he victimized a student recently. Pasay City Police Community Precinct 6 commander Sr. Insp. Jose Anaz identified the suspect as Michael Balmaceda, 29, married, a Sputnik Gang member and a resident of Bacoor, Cavite. He victimized Mitchel Hayohay, 20, while waiting for a bus ride in front of the Bank of the Philippine Islands branch along EDSA Extension, Pasay City last July 20. The suspect took the victim’s necklace worth R3,500. He was positively identified by Hayohay in a confrontation Tuesday. (Joel C. Atencio)

QUEZON CITY: Four suspected members of a robbery-holdup gang were nabbed by operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) at a checkpoint along the Cloverleaf Road in Balintawak Monday night. Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan, QCPD director, identified those arrested as Ronald Altura, Allan Munoz, Maximo Daydo and Arnel Katabay. The lawmen recovered three .38 caliber pistols, a bladed weapon and a wig which prompted them to arrest the four suspects who were then on board a blue Nissan Sentra. Police said they will also summon the owner of the vehicle who is a member of the Manila Police District to explain why the suspects was using his car. (Rico C. Navarro)