Couple nabbed for swindling, more victims come forward

CEBU, Philippines —  More victims of the alleged notorious Fernandez swindling group in Talisay City came forward to the police after a couple members was arrested by authorities in Catmon town in northern Cebu.

Police Lt. Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of Talisay City Police Station, said they are set to file the charges of swindling and estafa against the couple, Velbeth and Warren Fernandez, today.

The police will also file the same charges against three other cohorts, Dyna Tampus Fernandez, Christopher Ocañada and Floreda Fernandez, who remained at-large as of this writing.

Caballes said that after the arrest, more complainants from neighboring towns went to the station to report that they were victimized in the same method.

"Nanawagan lang ko nga if naay nabiktima with the same modus pwede ra sila moadto sa Talisay City Police Station, i-verify nato ang mga nawong," said Caballes.

The police said the couple was arrested during a hot pursuit operation on Black Friday, April 15, after their victims in two separate operations during the Holy Week reported their modus to the station.

The first one happened around the area of Tabunok terminal in Talisay City on April 14 while the second one happened in another area in the city on the same day.

"The same modus, ang kaning mga batan-on giduol sila og babaye unya nangita sila, ang gi alleged aning mga gang, giduol sila nangita og kanang ayuhanan og sakyanan, kay kuno naa silay naguba nga sakyanan nga naay daghang sakyanan, unya ipabantay sila," said Caballes.

"Unya nadugay na-engganyo gyud sila nga ipabilin ilang cellphone, unya ibilin ang kwarta, katong budol money, gibilin sa ilaha (victims), nya nadugay wala na kuno mibalik," he added.

When the incident was reported to the station, the police found out that suspects were notorious in this modus commonly known as “budol”.

Caballes said that Velbeth was arrested a couple times before on the same offense. She was arrested in 2016 in Bukidnon. She was also arrested in Roxas City, in Mandaue City in 2018, and was arrested in the same year in Isabela. Her latest arrest was in Liloan, Cebu last year.

"Molarga-larga gyud ni sila, nya everyday trabaho, ma consider na gyud nila nga trabaho ang pagpangilad, everyday maglarga-larga ni sila, mangitag laing lugar," said Caballes.

According to Caballes, the group is all family members operating as one started by a certain Victoria Fernandez, sister of Warren.

In line with this, Caballes warned the public to be cautious enough in entertaining this kind of interaction that could be a potential “budol”, considering that the three cohorts of the couple remained at-large.

Caballes said that when Velbeth was asked why they are still operating despite being arrested several times, she told the police that to earn money made them keep going.

"Kay pasaaran man sad aning mga suspects nga kung madumduman nila ang shop, tagaan sila og 1,500…mao ng warning nato sa mga tawo nga if naay moduol nila nga wala sila kaila, magbilin-bilin og kwarta, very routine na na nga style," said Caballes. — GMR (FREEMAN)