Police Arrest Man for Robbing 17-Year-Old Student of Cellphone in Manila
A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly robbing a 17-year-old student of her cellphone worth P8,000 in Tondo, Manila.
On Friday morning, October 16, 2026, Police said the suspect was caught , during a follow-up operation at a house in Barangay 138, Balut, Tondo. Officers from the Smokey Mountain Police Community Precinct under the Manila Police District’s Raxabago Police Station led the operation.
Closed-circuit television footage showed the student walking home from her sibling’s house along Vitas Street at around 9:22 p.m. when the suspect approached and blocked her path. The man allegedly threatened her by acting as if he was about to pull a weapon from his side, forcing her to surrender her cellphone.
Despite being frightened, the student tried to chase the suspect and recover her phone, but she was unable to get it back.
Police said the stolen cellphone and the bladed weapon allegedly used in the robbery have yet to be recovered. During questioning, the suspect admitted selling the phone to a friend for only P500.
The victim, a Grade 12 student, was deeply affected by the incident and has struggled to talk about what happened, according to her older sibling. The family plans to pursue legal action, stressing that the robbery affected not only the student’s belongings but also her emotional well-being.
The missing phone contained important school files and a SIM card connected to accounts she used for her schoolwork.
Police said they would refer the student to the Manila Department of Social Welfare and Development for psychological support and debriefing.
Meanwhile, the suspect claimed he committed the crime because he needed money for his six-year-old child, who had been hospitalized and was reportedly at risk of developing leukemia. He also admitted to previously using illegal drugs but claimed he had stopped.
“Nagawa ko lang po yun dahil sa kailangan ng pera. Sa pamilya ko naman dinala. Wala naman sa iba,” the suspect said.
In another post, a senior citizen injured after falling during alleged robbery
The suspect is now in police custody and faces a robbery charge.
Authorities reminded the public to stay alert while walking along streets and immediately report suspicious activities to the police.
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