A 14-year-old girl fell victim to a “dugo-dugo” gang that stole P10 million worth of their money and jewelry.
The girl traveled alone in a taxi from their house in Quezon City to Monumento in Caloocan on Tuesday to meet with the thief.
According to the father, this was after the child spoke on the landline to a woman who introduced herself as a lawyer and told her that the child’s mother had an accident and needed money.
CCTV captured the child handing a woman a red bag containing P1.5 million in cash and more than P8 million worth of jewelry.
It was late at night when the child returned home and told the parents and police what had happened.
“Na-rattle ‘yong bata, continuous ang instructions nila, nagtatanong mayroon bang vault sa inyo, saan nakalagay alahas ng mommy mo, kailangan makuha mo para maibigay, maibayad doon sa naaksidenteng bata… First time, hindi ko rin naisip na mangyayari sa aking pamilya. Mayroon kaming mga instructions sa mga katulong, pero ‘yong sa mga bata ang hindi ko nagawa. Hindi ko na-expect na doon sa bata mangyayari iyon,” the girl said.
During a follow-up operation by the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group-Luzon Field Unit assisted by CCTV footage, 30-year-old housewife Roan Pagaran and her male partner were arrested on Friday in Malabon.
14-year-old victim of ‘dugo-dugo’ gang in QC; P10-M money, jewelry stolen
Some watches and jewelry were also recovered from her, but no money was recovered.
According to the suspect, this was the first time she had tried the modus operandi.
“Ito ‘yong mga old modus na kumikita pa rin until now, kasi as we’ve seen ang tina-target nila itong walang kamuwang-muwang and then itong kasambay na wala ring experience sa ganitong sistema…Dapat maging aware sila sa modus na ito. Explain natin, ipaalam natin sa kanila and what are the things to do kapag may tumawag na strangers,” said Police Col. Frederick Obar of PNP-AKG.
The live-in for the theft case was already under inquest on Saturday.
Police are also looking for another alleged accomplice.
According to AKG, many recovered jewelry do not belong to the victim’s family, so they call on other “dugo-dugo” victims to contact them.
AKG can be contacted at these numbers: (02) 8537-4650, 0927-323-4894, and 0949-123-7466).
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