A 31-year-old woman is now in police custody after allegedly breaking into a priest's rented room and making off with cash amounting to nearly P200,000 in Minglanilla, Cebu. The swift arrest, which occurred on the same evening as the crime, was credited to community vigilance and social media.
Theft Caught on Camera
The incident took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 14, 2026. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Theresa Macatangay, chief of the Minglanilla Police Station, the suspect was identified as Christine Amante Ababon, a resident of Sityo Ufeba, Barangay Bulacao in Cebu City.
Footage from the Casa Miani Buschini in Barangay Candulawan showed Ababon entering the main gate at 4:44 PM. She proceeded to the second floor, scouted the area, and then used picklock tools to force open the door of the priest's rented quarters.
Viral Post Leads to Swift Arrest
Inside the room, the suspect stole the priest's savings, which consisted of donations collected during the recent Misa de Gallo and New Year celebrations, totaling approximately P199,300. The victim discovered the burglary when he returned to his room at around 5:30 PM.
Acting quickly, the priest reviewed the CCTV recording and uploaded the video to Facebook to help identify the thief. As the post went viral, a concerned netizen provided the priest with the suspect's real name and home address.
This crucial information was immediately relayed to the Minglanilla Police and barangay tanods of Bulacao. In a coordinated follow-up operation, authorities arrested Christine Amante Ababon at her residence at 10:09 PM on the same day, January 14.
Spree Ends with Major Purchases
Of the stolen P199,300, only P15,000 was recovered at the time of the arrest. Police investigation revealed that Ababon had hastily spent a large portion of the money on a brand new motorcycle and a Bluetooth karaoke box.
A background check indicated that Ababon is a notorious theft suspect, with previous records of similar crimes in the cities of Liloan, Badian, and Mandaue.
Lieutenant Colonel Macatangay emphasized that the prompt arrest potentially prevented another crime. She stated there was a high possibility the suspect would have targeted the upcoming Sinulog Grand Parade if she had not been apprehended immediately.
