The two arrested minors from Mantiquil, Siaton town, Oriental Negros who were mauled allegedly by bystanders after snatching the cellphone of a 24-year-old man recently have been freed by the police.

The Dumaguete City Philippine National Police said the victim, Jonathan Espina, had failed to file a complaint against the two 15-year-old boys. Since there was no reason to detain the suspects, they were released from police custody after the lapse of the reglamentary period, the PNP said.

Espina was inside a waiting shed taking shelter from the heavy rain at about 1 a.m. Thursday near the Brix Tailoring in Brgy. Daro, when the two boys joined him.

Minutes later, one of the suspects grabbed Espina's cellphone and both ran away along the national highway heading north. The victim chased the two boys and bystanders in the area joined the chase that ended in front of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital about a quarter of a kilometer away.

After cornering the two boys, the irate men beat them, but later turned them over to the police who arrived a few minutes after.*RG

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