By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Police recovered a high-end smartphone worth approximately ₱86,000 and arrested two suspects following a robbery incident involving a South Korean national in Malate, Manila, authorities said.
The victim, identified as Lee Jungyun, 32, a South Korean national temporarily residing in Pasay City, reported that his Samsung S26 Ultra was forcibly snatched at around 2:30 p.m. on July 12 while he was walking along Pedro Gil Street corner L. Guerrero Street in Malate.
According to the investigation, two unidentified men riding a matte dark green Yamaha NMAX motorcycle grabbed the victim’s cellphone before speeding away. The foreign national attempted to pursue the suspects but was unsuccessful and immediately sought assistance from the Remedios Police Community Precinct (PCP) under Manila Police District Police Station 5.
Police launched a backtracking and forward-tracking operation using nearby CCTV footage while coordinating with the victim to monitor the phone’s GPS location.
The operation led authorities to a room inside the Zorra Building in Barangay Paltok, Quezon City, where John Michael Rae Pamintuan, 23, was arrested at around 5 p.m. the same day.
Recovered from the location were the motorcycle allegedly used in the robbery, its key, plate number, a red hoodie, maong shorts, white Nike rubber shoes, and a safety helmet believed to have been used as disguises during the crime.
During questioning, Pamintuan allegedly identified his cohort known only by the alias “Ramram,” who remains at large. He also admitted that the stolen cellphone had already been sold to another individual.
Acting on the information provided, investigators organized an entrapment-style follow-up operation by arranging another supposed cellphone transaction with the alleged buyer.
At around 7:30 p.m., police proceeded to the agreed meeting place in front of a 7-Eleven branch along Hermosa Street, Tondo, Manila, where Prince Kenneth Lim, 43, voluntarily surrendered the stolen Samsung S26 Ultra.
Lim was subsequently arrested for allegedly violating Presidential Decree No. 1612, or the Anti-Fencing Law.
Pamintuan is facing charges for Robbery under Article 293 of the Revised Penal Code, while Lim will face charges for Violation of the Anti-Fencing Law. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate and arrest the remaining robbery suspect known only as “Ramram.”
Due to the complainant’s foreign nationality, the case has been referred to the General Assignment Investigation Section for further investigation and appropriate legal action.
Police said the successful recovery of the stolen property was made possible through the combined use of CCTV footage, GPS tracking technology, and coordinated follow-up operations conducted by personnel of the Remedios PCP.
ia/xf
