A SWIFT response to an alarm led Talomo Police Station personnel to stop a burglary and apprehend a minor at the CARD Bank near the Matina Public Market around 11:35 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2025.
Police said the youth involved has been safely endorsed for processing as a child in conflict with the law (CICL).
According to Major Genesis Oriel, PS3-Talomo commander, Corporal Eric Tauro and a police auxiliary responded to the CARD Bank alarm, and they observed a man acting suspiciously in front of the establishment.
The officers approached the individual for verification, and an inspection of his bag revealed various stolen items, prompting them to escort him to the Talomo Police Station for further investigation.
At the station, the individual was identified as 17-year-old alias Mark.
He disclosed that he had run away from home after a disagreement with his father. The minor admitted to stealing the recovered items from a watch repair stall located under the Matina Crossing overpass.
Officers confirmed that the stall’s lock had been forcibly broken and its contents were in disarray.
In accordance with juvenile justice protocols, alias Mark was immediately handed over to the station’s Women and Children Protection Desk.
The WCPD coordinated with the City Social Welfare and Development Office for the filing of appropriate charges and the minor’s turnover to Bahay Pag-asa for rehabilitation. Meanwhile, police took custody of the recovered items.
“This incident highlights the importance of our officers’ vigilance and immediate response to any suspicious activity,” said Oriel. “Their alertness not only prevented further criminal activity but also ensured the welfare of the minor involved was properly safeguarded. We remain firm in our commitment to enforce the law with compassion and fairness, especially when it involves our youth.”
Meanwhile, the Talomo Police Station is intensifying curfew enforcement between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Talomo Police Station urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children to prevent them from becoming vulnerable to risky situations.
