Woman, 85, falls prey to budol-budol

CEBU, Philippines - An 85-year-old woman lost more than P200,000 worth of cash and jewelry to at least four people who tricked her through the classic budol-budol scheme, past 1 p.m. yesterday in Barangay Cansaga, Consolacion town.

Victim Felomina Ceniza, of Tingub, Mandaue City, was made to believe that she was holding a bag that initially contained her jewelry.

She lost two gold necklaces, one gold bracelet, three Chinese gold earrings, four gold rings all valued at P197,000. Ceniza also lost P57,000 cash.

Senior Inspector Wilson Abot, Consolacion Police Station chief, said that the victim went to Consolacion Public Market to buy ukay-ukay, together with her helper Babylina Lucero, 50, when a lady approached the victim.

The lady spoke to the victim and told her that she knew one of Ceniza’s children and while they were talking, another lady approached the two.

The second lady pretended that she was going to buy color roof for her house in Mindoro.

Telling the victim that she was bringing a hefty amount of money, the second lady asked if she and the supplier of the color rood could make the transaction in Ceniza’s house, adding that she is afraid that she might lose the money to snatchers.

The lady, who pretended to buy color roof, asked the victim if she had jewelry because the lady’s mother reportedly does not have jewelry. The lady offered Ceniza if she could buy the woman’s jewelry so the former could give it to her mom. 

The lady managed to make the victim believe her. Ceniza and her helper were then asked to board a multicab, where a man and a woman were already waiting.

The woman introduced herself as a worker of the supplier of the color roof, who was supposed to be paid by the second lady who approached Ceniza.

When they reached Basak, near the house of the victim, the persons onboard the multicab told them that they had to refill gasoline, while Ceniza and her helper disembarked to get her jewelry.

When Ceniza and her helper returned, she had her jewelry with her, as well as her P50,000 cash.

Ceniza handed it to the “worker,” who secured the jewelry and cash in a bag with a lock.  The bag was later handed back to the victim who was told to open it once they got home.

When they opened the bag, the victim was surprised to see notebooks instead of her jewelries and cash. This prompted Ceniza to report to the police.

Abot said they are now looking into the matter, adding that the group that victimized a woman last November could be the same group responsible for taking Ceniza’s money and jewelry. — (FREEMAN)