Cavite syndicate busted

CAMP PANTALEON GARCIA, Imus, Cavite — A syndicate of pickpockets and cellular phone snatchers operating in various malls in the province was reportedly busted over the weekend, following the arrest of its suspected woman leader and five other members at the parking area of the newly inaugurated SM Mall in Pala-Pala, Dasmariñas town.

Chief Inspector Hilario Rodolfo Jover Jr., Cavite CIDG provincial officer, identified the arrested leader as Marilou Catama, a seven-month pregnant woman and a resident of Barangay Emmanuel I, Dasmariñas.

Catama was arrested while in possession of a Nokia 3650 cellular SIM card, which was stolen hours after the grand opening of SM Pala-Pala last Friday.

Follow-up operations yielded Catama’s syndicate members identified as Maribeth Rollon, 48; Angie Sulayao,31; Adrian Santos, 17; Alfonso Atanacio, Jr., 48; and Lolita Nebres, 48; all residents of Dasmariñas.

Jover said the arrest of Catama and her members were based on the complaint of several victims of cellular phone snatching and pickpocketing in different malls in Cavite. One Pia Mercado, for instance, complained that her cellular phone was stolen by a woman at SM Pala-Pala. CIDG operatives arrested Catama at about 5:30 p.m. on Friday. When subjected to search, Mercado’s SIM card was found in her possession.