This is the moment a brave student leapt onto the back of a cellphone snatcher's speeding motorbike during a tense chase in the Philippines.

The medical student Alsharezz Labungan was reportedly on his phone waiting to cross the street when the motorcycle-riding thief drove by and plucked the device from his hands in Cebu City on July 7.

Dashcam footage shows the victim sprinting after the snatcher and jumping onto the pillion seat of the two-wheeler, causing it to go out of balance. The pair careened towards the centre island and toppled over as they brawled in the middle of the road.

Police officers said Alsharezz managed to wrest his phone back, but the burglar fled the scene with his motorbike.

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said snatching incidents have been on the rise in the city for the past few months. They vowed to strengthen security by deploying more personnel in public areas.

CCPO Spokesman Police Lieutenant Colonel Maria Macatangay said: 'There are inspectors being assigned in different areas in Cebu City to ensure that these deployments are being followed by the station commanders.

'Hopefully, with this current reorganised deployment, we can minimise the number of thefts in our area of responsibility.'