A suspected bag snatcher was apprehended at his residence at Calong-Calong, Brgy. Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City, a few hours after a schoolteacher reported that her bag was taken by two unidentified persons near a gasoline station a few meters away from the Bacolod City police headquarters in Brgy. Taculing at about 5 a.m. yesterday.

The Bacolod police arrested Sherwin Sayson Ruiz, 30, married, of Calong-Calong, Zone 2, Brgy. Singcang-Airport after he was positively identified by complainant Susanita Guiljon of Purok Yanson, Eroreco Subdivision, Brgy. Mandalagan, as one of the persons who snatched her bag at Gelesani Drive, Purok Tapulanga in Brgy. Taculing, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, Bacolod City police director, said yesterday.

Guiljon said when she alighted from her multi-cab vehicle a yellow passenger jeepney stopped in front of her. One of the suspects alighted and grabbed her bag containing two cellular phones, P25,000 in cash, $410, an ATM card and several valuables, and fled, police reports said.

Ruiz, a jeepney driver vehemently denied the allegation, saying he was not driving a jeep at the time the snatching occurred. He said he was shocked when policemen suddenly went inside his room and handcuffed him.

Ruiz said Guiljon mistook him for his younger brother Paquito, 38, who could have driven his yellow passenger jeepney, accompanied by his friend Francis Guarin, alias "Alog," Tuesday and yesterday dawn.

Paquito and Guarin were still at-large up to press time yesterday.

However, Guiljon positively identified Sherwin so it is up to him to disprove the allegation of complainant, Merced said.

Sherwin will not be released from the custody of the Bacolod police unless his younger brother surrenders and admits to the charges, he added.

Insp. Danilo Acebuche, City Mobile Group officer-in-charge, and his men recovered the yellow passenger jeepney with Plate Number EAM 375 allegedly used by the suspects as a get-away vehicle at the garage of a certain SJO4 Ruiz at Barangay Singcang-Airport about 6:30 a.m. yesterday, Merced said.

Acting Bacolod Mayor Renecito Novero yesterday reminded the public to be more careful, especially after withdrawing money from banks. He said they should have a companion and keep their money in a bag and not show it, or some people might be incited to tempted a crime.

On Friday, four nursing students of West Negros College were held up by two unidentified persons on their way to school at Paniega-Gonzaga streets in Brgy. 28, Bacolod City.

On Tuesday, two women lost their cash and jewelry to unidentified persons in separate hold-up and bag slashing incidents in different areas in Bacolod City, police reports said.

A student of the La Consolacion College and a Murcia resident also lost their money to unidentified persons in separate hold-up and bag snatching incidents in the city Wednesday.*DMG

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