Swindling suspect poses as cop
The Iloilo City Police Office has warned the public against swindlers posing as policemen.
This, after a 23-year-old woman complained that she was swindled of her mobile phone by a man who identified himself to be a policeman.
Worse, Mary Joy Bardonico of Brgy. Mansaya, La Paz district, Iloilo City, claimed that she readily gave her Nokia 5130 worth P5,000 to the suspect.
Bardonico said she was riding a passenger jeepney plying Bo. Obrero-City Proper at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday when another passenger, who later identified himself as a policeman, approached her.
The suspect then told her she was keeping a sachet of shabu inside her pocket.
But Bardonico said the suspect forcibly placed the shabu inside her pocket and accused her of keeping illegal drugs.
When they reached Iznart St., City Proper, the suspect informed the victim that they should leave the jeepney as she will have to undergo a drug test at Camp Delgado, where the Police Regional Office 6 Regional Crime Laboratory is located.
Bardonico followed but before they reached Camp Delgado, at Mapa St., the suspect again told her to alight from the jeepney.
The suspect informed her that they would instead have a private doctor conduct the drug examination.
They then took another jeepney plying La Paz district and they alighted at Luna St.
Bardonico said she and the suspect entered the Cristina Colonnade building where the clinic of a “Dr. Ong” is supposedly located.
The suspect informed the victim that he would first check with the doctor but before leaving her, the “policeman” took Bardonico’s mobile phone claiming that it would prevent her from contacting anyone.
Bardonico readily surrendered her phone to the suspect who eventually disappeared.
The victim described the suspect as 5’6” to 5’8” tall with fair complexion.
Police Station 1 chief, Senior Insp. Elizer Baclagon, said they are now on the trail of the suspect who also used to pretend as policeman in his swindling racket.
Senior Supt. Dennis Basngi, city police director, warned the public against this kind of modus operandi.
“They should not believe any person who claims to be a policeman,” he said, adding that if possible, the public should ask for any identification from persons claiming to be members of the Philippine National Police.*
