3 female gang members nabbed

CEBU, Philippines - Three alleged members of “Salisi gang” were caught stealing valuables inside a house at Purok 3, barangay Camputhaw, Cebu City at about 10:00 in the morning yesterday.

All three were women.

Burglars took a Sony PSP worth P10,000 and a Samsung digital camera worth P17,000 owned by Ethel Miramon, 31, a resident of the said place.

Arrested and detained in the Cebu City Police Office were Cynthia Sinoy, 18, of Malingin St., barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City; Marianita Didace, 59, of F. Burgos St., Cebu City, barangay San Roque; and Fe Abarque, 31, of San Roque St., barangay Mambaling.

Dolores Go, 56 years old and mother of the victim, said she was passing by the house of Miramon who was on duty at that time when she noticed somebody inside.

This prompted her to call her daughter’s name but nobody answered.

She went inside the house and was surprised to see Abarque holding the items. She then called for help.

The Mobile Patrol Group arrested the suspects and brought to the Theft and Robbery Section.

Abarque claimed it was Sinoy who destroyed the padlock and the doorknob before she entered inside the house while Didace served as the look-out.

However, Sinoy and Didace denied the allegations saying they do not know Abarque.

Police Inspector Rolando Pinili said the strategy of the group is to ask for alms while observing the houses before doing the burglary.

“Mga salisi gang nga moatake kung way tao pero malas lang sila atong higayona kay nasakpan man sa inahan,” Pinili said. (Salisi gang members strike when no one is around but they were not lucky at that time as the victim’s mother caught them.)

Police found that Abarque was jailed in the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center once for robbery and was acquitted while Sinoy was detained in the Operation Second Chance for more than a year.

A robbery case will be filed against the suspects at the Cebu City Fiscal’s Office today. – (FREEMAN)