Police looking for thieves' local financiers

CEBU, Philippines —  The police are now investigating if Luzon-based members of a "Salisi Gang" who were arrested last Wednesday night after victimizing several Cebuanos have local financiers.

Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 spokesperson, said that they learned during their custodial debriefing of the suspects, who are currently detained at Mambaling Police Station, that they still have accomplices who are about.

That is why the police continue to conduct manhunt operations to catch the said accomplices of the group, whose members are not only from Luzon but also from Mindanao.

A Salisi Gang's modus operandi is to distract an intended target by having a member talk to him while another surreptitiously takes the person's unattended belongings.  The group usually preys on those inside malls.

“This is a highly-organized group. Planned operation ni sila, mangadto sila’g mall, mo-operate, pagkahuman mobalik sa ilang apartment or safe house then they operate again," Pelare said.

"They have been staying here for one month so atong gi-inventory kung kinsa pa tong nabiktima ani nga grupo,” he added.

The police also learned that one of those arrested has a pending arrest warrant in Pasay City.

Pelare said they are coordinating with other police units and shoring up intelligence monitoring as a proactive measure against the group.

"If you remember, the Sinulog time, there were groups of thieves here, but because of very efficient intelligence exchange, even when they have not yet arrived here, they have been identified already.  Then, once they are caught, there will be a number of cases," he said.

Pelare requested the victims to help prosecute these bad elements by really pursuing a criminal case to neutralize them.

"One of the challenges here is if the victim would continue to file a case. Because, oftentimes, they don't want to be bothered anymore; they will withdraw (the case) or they will not continue filing cases," he added.

He reminded the public to be vigilant and not be too trusting of people, especially strangers.

"Don't be too trusting of people who talk to you about any topic in a public place because they are probably members of the Salisi Gang," Pelare said.