Cell phone betrays snatcher

By Rhodina Villanueva, The Philippine Star

The cell phone he stole also gave him away.

Magellan Boaloy, 26, jobless and a resident of Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City, was arrested nine days after he was placed under police surveillance with the help of the phone’s tracking capability.

Superintendent Ronald Estilles, Parañaque police chief, said Boaloy was tagged as the man who took the Nokia 6630 belonging to the granddaughter of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr. last Jan. 17.

Monica Ann Mitra, a resident of Parañaque City, was with friends at a fastfood restaurant along President’s Avenue when Boaloy grabbed her cell phone and wallet.

The victim tried to run after the suspect, but was threatened with a caliber .38 revolver.

Mitra reported the incident to the police, whose job was made easier since the phone had "tracker" features provided by the network operator.

SPO3 Elpidio Soquiña, officer-in-charge of the follow-up unit of the Parañaque police, said his team was able to recover the phone from a certain "Richard," who provided them with the address of the man who sold him the phone.

In the afternoon of Jan. 26, police conducted an operation at the Lovewind Compound in Barangay San Isidro and apprehended Boaloy in the Bicutan area.

Apart from cell phone snatching, the suspect is also involved in pickpocketing, and robbing sari-sari stores and other commercial establishments.

Police also learned that the suspect has a pending warrant of arrest for attempted homicide.

Estilles said that the suspect was positively identified by the victim as the man who took her cell phone and wallet.

Boaloy is now detained at the Parañaque police station as robbery charges are being readied against him.