Suspect in snatching of phone in Punta Princesa identified

THE Punta Princesa Police Station has identified one of the two motorcycleriding men who snatched the phone of a mother, causing her baby to fall.

According to Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Joel Doria, a manhunt has been launched against Jomar del Socorro, who hails from Barangay Candulawan, Talisay City.

“I have talked with the station commander in Police Station 10 and I have directed him to coordinate with Talisay police because the suspect is from there. Our investigators also went directly to the house of the victim for her statement and for her to identify the suspect,” Doria said.

The crime, which happened at 3:38 p.m last Wednesday in front of a sari-sari store, was caught by a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera. The video went viral on social media.

Stephanie Pepito, 19, was texting while carrying her one-year-old baby on her lap.

Two men on board a motorcycle stopped in front of her. The passenger, identified as del Socorro, grabbed her phone.

Pepito resisted and held on to her phone, until the baby fell.

The motorcycle’s driver is still unidentified. The baby was rushed to the hospital. In a Balitang Bisdak report, Pepito said that she panicked and was frightened at that time.

Doria advised the public to refrain from wearing expensive jewelry to avoid attracting attention from criminals.

“Ang mga kriminal kasi, wala kasi silang sino-sino. Basta nagkaroon sila ng opportunity, they will grab it. Gagala sila at kung sino ang matiempohan nila, they will take the opportunity (Criminals victimize anybody. When they find an opportunity, they will grab it. They will roam around and hit whoever offers them the opportunity),” Doria said.