Suspect in George Garcia theft apologizes: "We thought he was Chinese"
• A female suspect in the theft of COMELEC Chairman George Garcia's bag has been arrested in Bacoor, Cavite
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• The suspect offered an apology on camera, controversially stating that she and her group "thought he was Chinese"
• Police recovered the bag, IDs, wallet, and phone, but the P200,000 in cash remains missing
• The culprit is believed to be a member of a "salisi" gang, and authorities are still hunting for her accomplices
A suspect in the "salisi" theft of Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Garcia’s bag has been apprehended, with the female culprit offering a controversial apology on camera, stating she and her accomplices mistook the official for a Chinese national.
Source: Facebook
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The arrest was made in a follow-up operation, though the bulk of the stolen cash remains unrecovered.
The suspect, whose identity has not yet been officially released by authorities, was captured in Bacoor, Cavite, on Wednesday morning.
Following her arrest, she faced cameras and expressed remorse for her actions, directing a plea to Garcia.
"I'm sorry to him… we thought he was Chinese," she said. The apology and its underlying discriminatory reasoning have since drawn sharp criticism from the public, who condemned the justification for the crime.
Police confirmed that the team was able to recover Garcia's bag, along with his wallet, personal identification cards, and a cellular phone. However, a significant amount of cash, reportedly totaling P200,000, was not recovered.
This new detail about the stolen amount has ignited public discussion, with many surprised at the large sum of money a government official was carrying.
The suspect is believed to be part of a criminal syndicate known for its "salisi" modus operandi, which targets patrons in public establishments.
The group is notorious for its ability to discreetly steal valuables from unsuspecting victims. The arrest comes after a city-wide manhunt was launched following the theft, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon at a restaurant in Pasay City, shortly after Garcia attended a Senate hearing.
The Pasay City Police Station, which is leading the investigation, has launched a hot pursuit operation to find the other accomplices who fled the scene in a getaway vehicle.
The case has been referred to the Investigation and Detective Management Section for further investigation and proper disposition.
While the capture of one suspect is a significant step, authorities are committed to apprehending the rest of the gang to fully dismantle the syndicate.
This incident has shed light not only on the security challenges faced by ordinary citizens and high-ranking officials alike but also on the disturbing prejudice that fuels certain types of street crime.
News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories that people could easily understand and relate in their lives.
It can be recalled that the COMELEC Chairman was victimized by an alleged "salisi" theft at a restaurant in Pasay City on Tuesday. The theft, involving six suspects, occurred at a restaurant shortly after Garcia attended a Senate hearing. Police have identified three of the suspects by their aliases: "Romson," "Alberto," and "Jun," based on CCTV footage. Garcia's bodyguards attempted to chase the culprits, who are believed to be part of a notorious "salisi" gang known for similar incidents.
Previously, the COMELEC chair spoke about the issues faced during the 2025 elections. He clarified the complaints of some voters regarding the discrepancy between receipts and ballots. He stated that there was no evidence of cheating and that voters may have simply forgotten who they voted for. He also revealed that the COMELEC's precinct finder had 1.2 million hacking attempts.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
