By Chris V. Panganiban
Inquirer Mindanao
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Police in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur launched on Friday a manhunt for three suspects who swindled a 72-year-old retired government employee out of jewelry and valuables worth P100,000, using two getaway sports utility vehicles in a classic “budol-budol” scheme.
Investigators from the Tandag Component City Police Station are tracking a male suspect and two female accomplices following the daytime heist at the Prince Town Tandag shopping center in Barangay Bag-ong Lungsod.
According to Col. Jeffrey Lawrence D. Mauricio, director of the Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO), the suspects approached the retiree under the guise of facilitating free financial aid (ayuda) specifically designated for government retirees.
After winning the victim’s confidence, the fraudsters instructed the senior citizen to place all personal belongings—including assorted jewelry, a mobile phone, and other valuables—inside a bag for safekeeping.
While the victim was distracted, the suspects surreptitiously swapped the parcel with a bundle stuffed with cut paper and slipped away before the deception was discovered.
Follow-up operations revealed that the perpetrators coordinated their movements on the ground using two vehicles: a gray Toyota Innova and a white Isuzu mu-X.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings and street cameras along major city exits and thoroughfares confirmed that the two vehicles operated in tandem near the shopping center around the time of the heist, serving as operational transport and getaway vehicles.
Lt. Col. Junyd D. Marohom, acting chief of police of the Tandag Component City Police Station, warned residents against predatory schemes targeting vulnerable senior citizens.
“We strongly remind the public, particularly our senior citizens, to remain vigilant against individuals who use deceptive schemes, false promises, and offers of assistance to gain their trust and take their valuables,” Marohom said.
“We urge the public to exercise caution, avoid entertaining suspicious individuals, and refrain from displaying or surrendering personal valuables to strangers,” he added.
City investigators are coordinating with provincial intelligence units to verify whether the trio belongs to an organized cross-provincial syndicate.
Police appealed to business establishments, motorists, and residents with dashboard camera or security footage of the two vehicles to come forward, particularly to help identify license plate numbers or custom exterior accessories.
Witnesses and informants may contact the Tandag police hotlines directly at 0998-598-7378 or 0950-707-3402. Police assured the public that all tips would be treated with strict confidentiality.
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