Teacher loses P200,000 to swindlers

By Felipe V. Celino  

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Around P200,000 in cash, jewelry, and cellphone were carted away by unidentified “budol-budol” gang swindlers from a retired teacher Monday afternoon at Barangay Jagnaya, Jamindan, Capiz.

Master Sergeant Lou Jacinto Robles of Jamindan Municipal Police Station identified the victim as Elna Inocencio, 71, of the said barangay.

According to Inocencio, she went to a commercial establishment in Roxas City to buy some essentials where she met a man who claimed to be a friend of her eldest son.

Robles said the suspect invited her to a car parked near the establishment where she was asked to see a doctor and that she will be given medicines and milk.

While they were talking, two other unidentified ladies joined them and sat beside Inocencio while they were on their way to Jamindan town.

Moments later, the car stopped and two more unidentified males joined the four ladies.

The suspects continued talking with the victim and convinced her to give P135,000 cash, cellphone and jewelry in exchange for a paper bag that was allegedly filled with money.

The suspects even accompanied the victim to her room to get the money, cellphone, and jewelry.

Inocencio said everything happened so fast and described her state of mind as blurry.

The suspects immediately boarded the white SUV car and hurriedly left.

Inocencio was later shocked when she discovered that the paper bag was filled with pieces of worthless paper. She later realized that she was victimized by a “budol-budol” group.

Police are still investigating the incident.