A 40-year-old businessman who reported a burglary was arrested instead for perjury when Quezon City Police District operatives found that he was deceiving them.

QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit chief, P/Maj. Don Don Llapitan, identified the suspect as Bernard Chua, a resident of Brgy. Bahay Toro in Quezon City.

Based on the initial reports of the Project 6 Police Station (PS-15), under P/Lt.Col. Richard Mepania, the suspect reported to PS-15 at 4:00 a.m. of 7 October 2023 that there was an alleged robbery (akyat-bahay) incident by six unidentified males, armed with long firearms, wearing dark clothing inside BC Cars Trading and Auto Services located at 130 Reyes St., Road 20, Brgy. Toro in Project 8, Quezon City.

Chua said the suspects forcibly entered his office and took P22.5 million cash; five pieces of watches worth P12.8 million; diamonds worth P10 million; one Glock 19 cal. 9mm pistol worth P50,000; one Glock 17 cal. 9mm pistol worth P50,000; one Rock Island revolver worth P20,000; one Bushmaster Rifle cal. 5.56 worth P125,000; one Glock 43 cal. 9mm pistol worth P50,000; and a Sig Saucer P238 cal. 380 pistol worth P48,000, for a total worth amounting to P68.14 million.

The suspects, he added, fled towards an undisclosed location with the loot on board a Silver Lexus SUV, white Toyota Innova, Black Toyota Innova with plate No. 16.,  green Yamaha Aerox, and black Honda Click motorcycle.

Subsequently, at 5:30 a.m. of the same date, CIDU conducted an investigation, and it revealed that no incident transpired as reported. Moreover, footage from CCTVs shows no record of the said incident.

All the witnesses, who are the employees of the suspect, stated that they were forced by the latter to make fabricated facts to make it appear that a robbery indeed happened.

With the information at hand, CIDU operatives implemented the suspect's arrest at 2:45 p.m. on the same day.

The arrested suspect will be charged with violation of Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) or perjury and will be referred to the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.

P/Brig.Gen. Red Maranan commended the hard work and dedication of the CIDU for conducting a comprehensive investigation that uncovered the facts of the incident that led to the arrest of the suspect.

"Magsilbi sana itong babala sa ating mga kababayan, na ang pagsisinungaling lalo na ang pagrereport ng isang krimen na hindi naman nangyari o gawa gawa lamang, ay labag sa batas at may parusang pagkakakulong," Maranan said.