4 youths apprehended for allegedly snatching Sec. Bello's cellphone

Authorities arrested four youths in Manila on Sunday for allegedly snatching the cellphone of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

The four youths aged 15 to 18 years old were apprehended in Quiapo by cops from the Manila Police District, according to a report byJonathan Andal on GMA's Unang Balita. Three of them were below 18 years old.

The suspects allegedly sold Bello's phone for P30,000 through the help of a woman who will be tapped as a witness. The woman said she did not know that the cellphone was stolen.

Police also arrested Omar Sidic, the man who bought Bello's phone, for violation of the anti-fencing law. 

Inaresto rin ang lalaking nakabili ng cellphone ni Sec Bello. Mahaharap siya sa paglabag sa anti-fencing law ayon sa MPD @gmanews pic.twitter.com/pr1cmZdJKa

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) November 8, 2020

Sidic is into buy-and-sell and he then sold the phone for P34,000.

Bello's mobile phone was snatched in the vicinity of the Manila City Hall and Mehan Garden on Friday, November 6.

The youngest of the suspects, a 15-year-old, said he was directed by a certain JD to snatch the phone. JD was able to evade police when they made the arrests on Sunday.

Another suspect said JD ordered them to do the job then gave them P5,000 afterward.

Meanwhile, one of the youth suspects said he was not involved in the theft. He said he was just in the area when police arrived to conduct the arrests.

However, he admitted being involved in cellphone theft before, but said he has already stopped committing the crime.

The youth suspects said they went into snatching out of need and due to peer pressure.

Sidic returned the money to the buyer to retrieve Bello's phone.

The youth suspects, who are currently in police custody, will be charged with robbery and snatching. —KG, GMA News