Manila cops hunt janitor as suspect in gas station rob

Elements of the Manila District Police (MPD) are currently tracking down a janitor who allegedly robbed the gasoline station he was working for in Manila, a police officer said Saturday. Claro Petroche, a janitor who works for a Shell gasoline station in Ermita, is currently being pursued by local police for allegedly running away with P550,000 from his employers last Thursday, PO3 Gorgeus Alumbro of the MPD Theft and Robbery Section said Saturday. Petroche became the subject of a manhunt after Anthony Torres, owner of the gasoline station, filed a complaint against the janitor on Saturday. Torres told the police that Petroche was asked by the gasoline station’s supervisor to deposit the amount to a nearby bank at 1:30 p.m. last Thursday, but did not return. The owner reported the incident to the MPD upon learning from the bank that Petroche did not deposit the amount. MPD cops immediately went to the suspect’s house, where they found Petroche’s wife in possession of P510,000, supposedly part of the money the janitor took. Torres said he is willing to withdraw the complaint he filed against Petroche if the janitor will return with the remaining amount.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV