The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported on Saturday the arrest of a foreign national for multiple criminal offenses following a hot pursuit operation in Mandaluyong City the day before.

The 36-year-old suspect, a Palestinian national, was apprehended at around 10:15 a.m. along Sierra Madre Street, Mandaluyong City, after allegedly committing theft inside Crossroads Hostel along Mariveles Street, Barangay Highway Hills.

Police said the suspect entered the hostel, allegedly stole P5,000, and fled. The complainant shouted for help, which was immediately responded to by police officers in the area who witnessed the suspect fleeing.

Acting on their personal observation and the information relayed by the complainant, operatives pursued the suspect, leading to his arrest along Sierra Madre Street.

During identity verification, the suspect attempted to flee and resisted the arresting officers, prompting them to use reasonable force to restrain him. The police withheld his identity.

Further investigation revealed that a second complainant, a TNVS driver, voluntarily appeared and reported that earlier on the same date, the suspect booked a transport service through an application for a trip from Ermita, Manila, to Hotel Sogo along Shaw Boulevard corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City.

Ruse

The suspect allegedly deceived the driver into accepting online payment but later failed and refused to pay the agreed fare despite waiting for more than one hour, causing undue vexation and inconvenience.

Background investigation showed that the suspect arrived in the Philippines in December 2019 and has been the subject of police tracing efforts since 2023 due to his involvement in several criminal incidents.