Six Ilocos women robbery syndicate members nabbed

BAGUIO CITY – Six women syndicate members from the Ilocos Region whose modus operandi is “sandwiching” their victims and stealing their money in this summer capital were arrested last week.

A missionary filed charges against the eight women suspects who reportedly aided one another in “sandwiching” her Monday around 11:40 along Upper Mabini St. here and took her wallet containing P7,000. 

Victim Trinidad Samuel Ollet, 59, of Naiba Tuding, Itogon, Benguet filed theft charges against Theresita Medina Fulgencio, 64; Susan Ipac Imperio, 57 and Lorna Miranda Pagod, 51, all of of Carmen West Sur, Rosales, Pangasinan; Gloria Ferrer Singko, 62, of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; Grace Venturia Talania, 41, of Pugo, Sinait, Ilocos Sur; Imelda Tabay Singko, 49, of Bungro, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Estrella Galvez and Suzete Tinaza.

A police report said the suspects aided one another in taking her black wallet containing Postal, SSS ID and Temple Recommend IDs and the P7,000.

 Investigation disclosed, the victim and her sister-in-law withdrew money at Metro Bank, Upper Magsaysay and proceeded to Lower General Luna Road unaware that they were being followed by the suspects.

The suspects reportedly started walking very close to the victim but they ignored them thinking they were just passersby. At Upper Mabini, the suspects reportedly sandwiched the victim and she noticed later that her bag was slashed and her wallet was gone.

Following this, the suspects did another “sandwiching” job a few minutes later around 12:30 p.m. inside Jollibee Fast Food at Lower Mabini Street this time, on complaint of Flora Diagan Perry, 80, of Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet.

A police report said the suspects aided each other in taking Perry’s brown wallet containing her senior citizen, Philhealth, United Health Insurance and Boieng Employee Credit Union IDs, Tiongsan discount and SM advantage cards and P6.600 cash.

Investigation disclosed that the victim and her son went to Jollibee for their lunch. After eating, she went to the comfort room but while on her way, two of the suspects walked very close to her with one wearing surgical mask and another holding an umbrella and blocking her way with several female persons  behind her. Suddenly, they all dispersed so the complainant entered the comfort room. However, while at the comfort room, complainant noticed that her bag was wide open and discovered her brown wallet missing. She then reported the incident to the Food Chain supervisor and upon review of the CCTV, it was revealed that the female persons aided one another in taking her wallet which was later recovered by cops but the money was missing.

Cops of Station 7 later arrested six of the eight suspects. The wallet of Ollet in earlier case, was not recovered and believed to have been taken by their two companions who managed to evade arrest. 

Fulgencio asked for forgiveness and pleaded to Ollet not to pursue the case but she refused. The case is set for inquest proceedings.