A 92-year-old grandmother in Balagtas, Bulacan, lost P7 million after being victimized by the Budol-budol gang. A suspect was arrested in an entrapment operation.
Emil Sumangil reported on GMA News “24 Oras” on Tuesday that the suspect, Anthony Jitula, 24, was arrested in an entrapment operation.
Jitula was arrested outside a bank after he accepted the money of the victim Remedios Buizon, who withdrew from the bank.
According to police, Jitula is part of the Budol-budol gang that conspired to steal more than P7 million from Buizon. The 92-year-old grandmother worked hard to earn money by working for more than 30 years in America.
During the police investigation, it appeared that Buizon met the suspects when they sold her home appliances last month.
It is said that since then, the Budol-budol gang has made friends with the victim and offered to invest in home appliances.
“‘Di natin alam kung gaano kagaling ‘yong skill nila sa pag-convince pero na-convince [ang biktima] kasi according sa records ng bank ay talagang nagkaroon ng withdrawal,” said Balagtas, Bulacan chief of police Police Major Neil Cruzado.
(We do not know how excellent their convincing skills are, but the victim was convinced because, according to bank records, there was actually a withdrawal.)
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Budol-budol gang robs P7M from 92-year-old grandma
“Mag-ingat sa mga kakausap sa inyo. ‘Wag kayong magtiwala agad. Hindi katulad natin lahat ang tao, may mga walanghiya ngayon,” the victim advised the public.
(Beware of those who talk to you. Don’t trust someone right away. Unlike all of us human beings, there are bad people today.)
“Kay tanda ko na, aargabiyaduhin pa nila. Imbis na tulungan nila. Sa aking mga pinuno, ayon ang dapat nilang bantayan,” the victim added.
(I am too old but they still robbed me instead of helping me. Our authorities should guard those.)
The police are also advising the public to be vigilant because such modus operandi is on the rise in the middle of quarantine in the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces.
“Ito po ‘yong way nila para makapasok sa bahay so maging aware po tayo doon,” said Cruzado.
(It is their way of entering a house so we should be aware of their scheme.)