New modus operandi in Caloocan

A young Manila couple engaged in trading lost some P620,000 worth of cellphones to a Fil-Chinese customer in Caloocan City after the goods were forcibly taken from them using a new modus operandi the other day.

Police said George Charles, 28 and his wife Deanna Jean Bacolor, 22 of 1518 Eusebio Street, Pandacan, Manila, accused Edison Go, Tina Ronquillo and several John Does, holding office at 6-B Gen. Malvar Street, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, of alleged robbery.

In his complaint to SPO2 Antonio Paras, Charles said that after personally delivering 151 Nokia 5110s and 13 Nokia 3310s with SIM packs to Go’s office at around 4:30 p.m. last Oct. 28, the cellphones were alleged "forcibly taken" from them by unidentified armed men presumed to be working for Go and Ronquillo.

Charles said that he has known Go, who had ordered the cellphones, for only about six months. Ronquillo, he said, used to be his supplier of cellphones and pre-paid call cards.

"I could not do anything as the men who took the cellphones were all armed and were allowed by Go to take them all. After the delivery, Go asked me to wait as he said he had ordered somebody to withdraw the money [to pay for the goods]. Ronquillo showed up with the armed men and took all the cellphones without paying for them, obviously with Go’s permission," Charles said.

The victims alleged that the suspects all acted in connivance with each other and threatened them with harm. "We had no recourse but to just leave, fearing what might happen to us. We reported the incident to the police," Charles said. – Jerry Botial