Three delivery workers were arrested Tuesday afternoon, 24 February 2026, after they were caught taking cases of soft drinks without permission from a general merchandise store in Barangay 40, Balatong, Laoag City.

Initial investigation showed that at around 2:30 p.m., the suspects — a 28-year-old married driver from Barangay Santiago, Solsona; a 26-year-old single delivery helper from Barangay 9, San Lucas, San Nicolas; and a 28-year-old single delivery helper from Barangay 4, Nueva Era — delivered beverages to Mundlie and Kellie General Merchandise owned by Edmund Casil Bumanglag, 49, a resident of Barangay 40, Balatong.

After completing the delivery, Bumanglag reportedly saw the driver load two cases of 1.5-liter soft drinks worth about P1,400 from previous stock onto their delivery truck without payment or consent.

When confronted, the suspects admitted taking the items and offered to settle the matter, but the victim refused and reported the incident to the police.

Responding officers from the Laoag City Police Station immediately went to the scene and placed the suspects under arrest.

The three were taken to a hospital for medical examination before being brought to the Laoag City Police Station for proper disposition.

Later, the victim executed an affidavit of desistance after the suspects fully settled the civil liability amounting to P14,000 and expressed his decision not to pursue the filing of charges.