ILOILO – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is warning the public against swindlers or budol-budol gangs operating in this province.
IPPO director Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero made the statement following the arrest of a suspect in the town of Zarraga yesterday, April 18 – Jaime De Ocampo Jr. of Barangay Baluarte, Molo, Iloilo City.
He was arrested around 10 a.m. after a vendor in the Zarraga public market alerted the police, Gorero said.
The top cop encouraged especially those who have businesses to always be cautious.
“Anybody can visit my office or any police station to complain. To our vendors, be cautious also in dealing with buyers,” Gorero said.
“Let us be aware that despite the pandemic, there are unscrupulous people taking advantage of unsuspecting citizens,” he added.
The 29-year-old Michael Labayao of the town’s Barangay Jalaud Norte filed the complaint against De Ocampo.
According to Lieutenant Raphy Señeres, Zarraga deputy police chief, the modus operandi of the suspect was to buy items using a P1,000 bill but would later change his mind.
“Kung makuha na nya ang item, mahambal na sia nga indi na lang sia magbakal then ibalik nya ang kwarta nga change niya sa P1,000 pero madasig na sia magtago sang P500 sa iya bulsa. Meaning kulang na ang ibalik nya nga change sa P1,000,” Señeres said.
Señeres said the suspect was arrested after buying one fourth kilo of onions from Labayao worth P45. He paid P1,000.
“So ginhatag na ni Labayao ang change nya kag ang ginbakal nya. But he told the victim nga indi na lang sia magbakal kay abi nya tag P35 per kilo. So sang ginbalik nya na ang kambyo, kulang na P500 kay madasig nya makimpit sa kamot nya. One of the market in-charge saw what happened and he held the suspect,” said Señeres.
On April 10, the suspect also victimized a banana vendor in the same market, said Señeres.
De Ocampo was detained at the Zarraga police station./PN
