Complaints for arson and robbery were filed before the provincial prosecutor’s office against a suspect who robbed his former employer, and then torched the house before leaving, but who was subdued by neighbors who responded to the fire alarm.
The neighbors chanced upon the suspect and held him under the principle of citizen’s arrest, and turned over to the police who arrived minutes later.
This happened early evening on July 25 at the residence of Doris Uymatiao, a 68-year-old widow, in Maslog, Sibulan, where suspect Jomar Rabao, 24 years old from Tambuhangin, Amlan, scaled the back fence, broke into the Uymatiao house, scooped an estimated P1 million worth of jewelry from the cabinets, and then torched the mattresses before leaving the premises.
Residents, however, who saw the house burning, responded to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby residences, and in the process, neutralized the suspect who was caught in possession of a bag containing the stolen items.
Sibulan firemen and the Filipino-Chinese volunteer fire brigade quickly put off the blaze. Estimated cost of damage was placed at P2.5 million.
In an interview, Rabao claimed he torched the house out of anger and hatred for being in that house for two years with a daily pay of P80.00, and another four years with a P115 daily wage.
He further claimed he resigned as helper two months ago because he cannot anymore take the injustice, and that he returned with a vengeance. He claimed it took him six years of agony over his wages.
Recovered items included a piece of white gold pendant, a jade pendant, seven gold pendants, 15 gold rings, three white gold rings, five pairs of white gold earrings, ten pairs gold earrings, three pairs of gold earrings with pearl, a pair of orange stone earrings, two white gold bracelets, six gold bracelets, two white gold with diamond bangles, three gold bangles, five gold bracelets with orange stone, P11,410 in cash, $HK 700, $US 2, five gold necklaces, a gold bracelet with red flower charms, three gold necklaces with pendant, a gold choker, two while gold necklace with pendant, two white peace necklace, four watches, two gold hair accessories with orange stone, a white jade with pendant, eight diamond stones, three gold brooches, three pairs of gold earrings, and six ‘broken’ gold. The items were properly inventoried on orders of Sibulan Chief of Police Sr. Insp. Nelson Lamoco, as witnessed by the owner herself and the media. (PNA)
