Cops arrest suspects in Laguna school robberies

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested Wednesday night 2 suspected members of a group responsible in a series of school robberies in Laguna province.

Inspector Jeffersin Ison, Pila town police chief, identified one of the arrested suspects as Efren Vega. The other suspect is only 17 years old.

Ison said the suspects were arrested after a heist at the Pansol Elementary School in Pila town before midnight on Wednesday.

Police said the suspects have already broken into 8 classrooms and carted away a DVD player, a microphone and food intended for pupils, when they were spotted by a roving barangay watchman.

When police arrived, the suspects scampered. The 2 suspects were arrested after a brief chase in a rice field near the school.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police provincial director, said that at least 4 schools have been burglarized by the group since December of last year.

Cruz said that the group's biggest hits so far were in Victoria town. The group took 10 new laptops, a TV set, cash and other school equipment from the Banca-Banca Elementary School and Victoria High School.

He said the group usually strikes during heavy downpour and at night.

Cruz said manhunt operations are being conducted for the arrest of the remaining members of the group. (report from ABS-CBN News)