Laglag-barya gang strikes again

CEBU, Philippines - A man who just went out from a bank after depositing money in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City became the latest victim of the laglag-barya gang.

Jesus Tomosok, 39, married of Barangay Tayud, Liloan town, went straight to the parking area where he parked his car on Friday afternoon after transacting with Metrobank in Tabok.

But as he was about to drive away from the place, a man “in white polo shirt” reportedly knocked hard on the rear portion of his car, prompting Tomosok to step down to check what the man wanted to say.

As soon as he got out, the man told Tomosok that something had fallen from the back portion of the car. When the victim came to see it, he indeed saw some keys and coins on the ground, leaving his car open.

When Tomosok got back in, he found out that his bag was already missing.

Bystanders in the area told him that a woman had quickly opened the right passenger door and was the one who got his bag which contained some Metrobank and PNB checkbooks, external hard drive, wallet with his driver’s license, SSS ID and other documents.

According to Basak Police Station chief, Senior Inspector Genilo Veraque, after the bystanders shouted to alert Tomosok, the latter noticed a man and woman running from the vicinity of the bank.

Tomosok tried to chase them but he soon lost sight of them due to the heavy traffic in the area.

“Kay wala man niya magukod, ni-report siya sa amo. Akong giingnan nga siyaro wala ka kadungog sa TV ug radio karon nga mao na na’y bag-ong modus. Niingon ra man sad nga wala daw. Hinuon wala man sad daw to balor ang mga nakuha sa suspects. Apan ako siyang gipahimangnoan,” Veraque said.

(After the failed chase, he reported to us. I told him that news about laglag-barya gang has been on TV and over the radio as this is a new modus. He just said he did not hear of such. Good thing, the suspects were not able to take any valuables from him, he said. But I reminded him to be careful.)

In the light of the incident, Veraque advised car owners once more to be extra cautious when opening their car doors because it is easy for these laglag-barya gangs to prey on them.

He particularly warned those who own automatic remote cars because once the driver opens the driver’s door, all the other doors of their vehicle will be opened, exposing them to risks.

“Dili pareha sa manual nga kon abrehan nimo ang driver’s seat, kana ra ang moabre. Apan sa automatic, inig abre, tanan pultahan ang moabre busa makahigayon dayon ni sila sa pagsalisi og kuha sa imong mga butang sa sulod,” Veraque said.

This is the second time that laglag-barya gang has struck in the city after an executive manager of an English school lost half a million pesos worth of cash, checks and valuables two weeks ago to a group with allegedly the same modus operandi.

She was then about to leave the parking area of Rose Pharmacy in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City when the suspects tricked her using the same antics.

Similar incident was also reported in Lapu-Lapu City that day.  (FREEMAN)