Businesswoman arrests swindler

Manila, Philippines - A businesswoman arrested a female member of the “Budol-Budol” swindling gang who tried to victimize her for the second time in Mandaluyong City yesterday.

Elvie Britania, 52, said she lost P100,000 in cash, jewelry and dollars to Delia Lopez, 53, and she could not forget the woman’s face. She brought Lopez to the police headquarters, hours after collaring her in Barangay Maysilo at about 10 a.m. yesterday.

The victim claimed Lopez, identifying herself as a Chinese businesswoman, approached her in January and asked for help in buying several motors for her bancas. Lopez and her companions left behind a blue bag “full of money” as Britania’s reward for helping them.

But when Lopez and her companions failed to return for several hours, Britania checked the contents of the bag and was dismayed when she found out that it was “boodle money.”

Britania said she was walking towards the City Hall yesterday when a man approached her and asked for help in buying a motor for his banca.

“Because of the same modus operandi employed on me, I looked around and saw the suspect was one of his companions. I immediately grabbed her (Lopez) and brought her to the police station despite her protestations,” Britania said.

Lopez’ three companions escaped on board a maroon car with license plate WFM-254.

Inspector Jaime Masilang, chief of the criminal investigation unit, coordinated with the Land Transportation Office to trace the owner of the car and possibly file charges against him.

Lopez admitted her crime, saying she felt sorry for their victims.