MANILA – Authorities are continuing to search for the man who punched and stole from an 18-year-old girl in a computer shop Tuesday evening.
According to Kagawad Eric Baruelo of Barangay 765, Sta. Ana, Manila, they are working with the police to track down the suspect. They have circulated the man’s photograph as well as the clip of the video taken by the computer shop’s surveillance system, and are narrowing down possibilities regarding his identity.
"May nakapagsabi sa amin…baka mamaya, kamukha lang po kaya sinisiguro [namin] ang identity (We got information [about a possible suspect]…we are continuing to investigate just in case he just looks like the assailant)," Baruelo said during a radio interview on DZMM.
Manila law enforcers have been investigating the incident for two days, Baruelo said, and reassured the victim’s family that they are exhausting all possibilities to find the man who punched "Patricia".
The girl's mother meanwhile said that she is confident that the authorities are doing all they can. Baruelo comes to their house to update them on progress, so she has no questions about what they are doing.
Patricia was hurt when a man came into the computer shop where she works and punched her in the stomach before stealing her cellphone.
The incident was captured by the shop’s CCTV camera.
"Hindi na ako nakatayo, napaupo na lang ako dito sa sahig (I was not able to stand up [because of the pain]. I just fell to the floor)," Patricia said in a previous interview with media regarding the attack.
Patricia's mother said that the incident was out of the ordinary, because on most other days, the computer shop is filled with people.
"Nagkataon na umuulan, walang tao, kinabukasan walang pasok (It was raining, there were no people and there was no school the next day)," she said.
The authorities have warned the public to be wary of staying alone in public establishments, especially at night, and to take precautions to ensure personal safety.
Any information about the suspect can be called in to the Manila Police District Station 6 hotline 563-4619.