AKLAN, Philippines. (03 October 2019) – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) urges the vessel riding public to be mindful of their personal belongings as a theft incident was monitored onboard a passenger/cargo vessel enroute to Aklan from Batangas yesterday morning, 02 October.

PCG personnel in Aklan and Jetty Port duty personnel received a report from a certain Mr Richard Alair, Provincial Guard II of Jetty Port Caticlan that a conductor of a bus loaded onboard M/V St Ignatius of Loyola, stole cellular phones and sling bag from two passengers of said vessel.

Upon docking of vessel at Caticlan Jetty Port, personnel of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Aklan conducted pre-departure inspection and vessel safety inspection while the PCG K9 Aklan and Jetty Port personnel immediately boarded the said vessel to conduct investigation.

Investigation revealed that while the vessel was underway from Batangas Port last 01 October with 324 passengers and 26 rolling cargoes two concerned passengers identified as Mr Rjean Lolong Y Morillo and Ms Emely Julian Y Macaso complained at the front desk of the said vessel that their mobile phones were missing in the tourist accommodation area. Immediately, the vessel security informed the Master of vessel regarding the incident and conducted inquiry.

A certain Aiko Clutario, a passenger of the vessel, approached the vessel security personnel and informed that he witnessed the incident. Clutario accompanied the authorities to locate the suspect who was found sleeping in the same area. Said suspect was identified as Mr. Jessie Balentogo, 29 year-old resident of San Jose, Del Monte, Bulacan and conductor of a bus company.

Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted his culpability and recovered from his possession the six units of cellphones and a sling black bag.

The team caught the suspect who was properly turned-over to PNP-Malay Station together with other complainant for proper disposition.