Three suspected robbers from Calapan City were arrested as they were allegedly caught thieving valuables from a shipborne vehicle off Isla Verde, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

Melinda A. Abajon, 45, and a resident of Brgy. San Lorenzo South, Sta Rosa Laguna, was onboard Batangas-bound M/V Reina del Cielo on November 28 when she noticed that her L300 van was being looted.

She reported the incident to the ship’s security guard, Dave Falo, who immediately went to the car deck and caught a 14-year-old boy while allegedly stealing a tin of motor oil and some cash from Abajon’s van.

The teenager, a resident of Brgy. San Antonio, Calapan City, was apprehended and brought to Captain Fredie Collera, skipper of the vessel, for investigation.

It turned out that the boy had two adult cohorts onboard the ship, which originated from the Calapan City port.

The two adult suspects were identified as Arnold de Leon, 26, resident of Brgy. San Antonio, Calapan City, and Ricardo Bautista, 33, and a resident of San Vicente North, Calapan City.

When the ship reached the Batangas City port, a Coast Guard team escorted the three out of the ship and turned them over to police.