Chef and restaurateur Myke “Tatung” Sarthou has expressed frustration over the alleged lack of police assistance following a burglary at his home in Baras, Rizal, which reportedly left him with an estimated ₱4 million in losses and damages.
In an October 17 Facebook post, Sarthou shared a video showing the ransacked property and detailed his attempts to seek help from authorities.
“They stripped it almost to the bone,” he wrote, describing how appliances, fixtures, and even electrical wiring were taken from the property.
However, Sarthou said the alleged theft was not the only thing that left him distressed.
“But what hurts even more is what happened when we turned to the police for help,” he said. “They refused to help us.”
According to the chef, they had visited several police stations over the course of days but were repeatedly referred elsewhere, with no one willing to formally receive their complaint or investigate the incident.
“Instead, we’re being asked to provide proof that a crime was committed,” he added, questioning what further evidence authorities needed given the condition of their home.
Sarthou said the thefts began on September 25 and that the incident was reported to barangay officials and police in Antipolo City and Baras. He claimed that despite repeated attempts to request an investigation, they still had no police report.
The chef also alleged that a suspect apprehended by barangay personnel was later released due to the lack of police response. The circumstances surrounding the reported apprehension and release remain unclear.
Sarthou, who previously opened his home to guests through Tatung’s Private Dining during the pandemic, admitted that the experience has shaken his faith in the country.
“I’m starting to lose hope in the Philippines,” he wrote, adding that a country loses its people not only when they leave but also “when they stop believing that justice is possible.”
Addressing the Philippine National Police and the Rizal Police Provincial Office in his post, Sarthou appealed for assistance, stressing that he was asking for accountability rather than special treatment.
“We are victims of a crime. We’ve spent days asking your officers for help, only to be passed around and turned away,” he said.
“We are asking for help, not favors. Is that really too much to ask?”
