Iloilo City Police Warn Against Basag-Kotse Theft

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has warned car owners to remain vigilant against basag-kotse robbers.

The warning followed a reported basag-kotse incident on Jan. 30 in Barangay Guzman-Jesena, Mandurriao.

Colonel Kim Legada, ICPO chief, urged car owners to be cautious of individuals targeting unattended vehicles.

“We highly recommend not keeping valuables inside vehicles. Even if there are no valuables, do not leave bags inside as they may attract basag-kotse criminals,” Legada said.

He also advised motorists to park in well-lit areas to deter thieves.

The latest basag-kotse case involved a couple who went for a massage, leaving their car parked in front of the SDC Building, where the spa was located.

They arrived around 9 p.m. and discovered the break-in at 10:30 p.m.

Captain Joebert Amado, chief of Iloilo City Police Station 5, said the suspect broke the front passenger window and stole the woman’s bag, which contained her wallet, PHP 15,000 in cash, and several identification cards.

Although a CCTV camera was installed in the area, Amado said it failed to capture the actual break-in.

“We are looking at one or two suspects,” he said.

A few hours later, the woman’s ID cards were found in front of a building in Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes, Jaro.

CCTV footage showed someone leaving the items around 2 a.m.

The previous basag-kotse incident in Iloilo City was reported on Jan. 25 in front of a restaurant in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, where suspects stole a mobile phone worth PHP 7,000.

Basag-kotse incidents in the city date back to 2009.

After targeting several victims, the perpetrators disappeared but resurfaced in 2011, with additional cases reported in 2012 and 2014.

Of the numerous incidents, only one group was arrested, but its members were able to post bail.