BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – Four minors, aged between 9 and 13, were arrested by the Iloilo City Police Station 1 after allegedly breaking into the Public Order and Safety Management Office (POSMO) of the Iloilo City Government on Monday, September 23.
Police identified the minors as two nine-year-olds, a 10-year-old, an 11-year-old, and a 13-year-old.
Authorities are also tracking down a 15-year-old suspect linked to the same incident.
According to Police Captain Roque Gimeno III, chief of Police Station 1, the minors initially entered the POSMO office, tampered with a DSLR camera, and took photos but left without stealing it.
During a subsequent break-in on Sunday, they reportedly managed to steal several gadgets.
The 11-year-old and 13-year-old were specifically noted for taking a laptop, while another suspect acted as a lookout.
The minors, however, were not found in their barangay, leading authorities to believe they may have fled.
The break-in occurred at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, and the suspects returned at approximately 4 p.m. the following day to steal more items.
The stolen goods recovered by the police included two Acer laptops, a Nexterm laptop, a defective Samsung Duos cellphone, a vape, and a pink birdcage. These items are now in police custody.
The apprehended minors were handed over to the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Iloilo City Police Office for initial processing, accompanied by their parents or guardians.
They were later transferred to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for proper documentation and further handling./PN
