Elderly woman falls prey to budol-budol operation
After a quite lengthy lull, budol-budol operation is back.
During the celebration of the Jaro Fiesta last February 2, a woman reported that she was hoodwinked by two budol-budol suspects.
Sixty-two-year old Gelen Vegafria of Brgy. Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City claimed that she was at Lopez Jaena St., Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Jaro when a man, around 50 years old, approached her.
The man asked for her help to find a truck, as he was to deliver orders of dried fish to a mall in Mandurriao district.
“Na-aberiya kuno ang iya truck sa Muelle Loney. Ti, kinahanglan niya pa ipaguyod,” she added.
The Tagalog-speaking man allegedly offered monetary consideration for her help.
But she declined. “Nangindi ko kay hinambalan ko siya nga ang importante lang nga makabulig ko sa akon isigkatawo.”
At that juncture, another elderly man, who allegedly overheard their conversation, joined the two.
The second man offered his help to facilitate the delivery of the goods from Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City to the mall.
“Hambal niya, didto na lang abi kami ma transaksayon kay ang kwarta ihatag niya sa akon. Tunga-on namon kuno sang tigulang,” Vegafria narrated.
To seal their “partnership,” the duo agreed to deposit their valuables inside a bag.
In Vegafria’s case, she deposited her necklace and two rings valued at P20,000.
The two men then left leaving the “bag” of valuables to the victim.
Later, when the victim opened the bag and was stunned to find that it contained two folded pads of intermediate paper.
“Baw pagkakita ko, nabal-an ko gid nga nabiktima na ko sang budol-budol nga ginatawag,” she said.
According to Jaro Police Station commander Chief Insp. Orly Gabinete, the suspects used their usual modus operandi against the victim.
“It’s an old practice that still works: a first person would ask for help then a second one would offer his help. The victims, who are mostly elderly, would surrender their valuables like cash and jewelries to signify their trust,” he added.
The unsuspecting victim usually would not notice that the bags or pouch would be swapped with another bag.
Meanwhile, police investigators had Vegafria looked into the rogue’s gallery of criminals but the victim failed to identify the two suspects.
