Police warn Metro households against robbers posing as housemaids

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Northern Field Office warned the public yesterday about a robbery group whose members pass themselves off as housemaids and victimize employers.

Superintendent Gene Ines Abrajano, CIDG-NFO chief, cautioned homeowners after the arrest of Cecille Vallera, tagged as a member of a robber-cum-housemaid gang.

"This group’s modus operandi is very simple but effective," said Abrajano noted. "They easily gain access to their target by making a member apply as a housemaid."

Vallera, 34, native of Iloilo, of Block 2, Damata street, Letre Road, Malabon City, had been wanted by the authorities for allegedly robbing her employer, Ma. Janina Bautista of Paranaque City, of some P700,000 in assorted jewelry and cash.

Vallera was arrested by the Civilian Volunteers Against Crime after the employment agency with whom she had applied, sought CVAC assistance.

After Vallera had robbed Bautista, the owners of the employment agency from which she was hired, tried to locate her by going to her listed address.

They found the address fictitious and chanced upon the office of CVAC which was nearby. So, they left a picture of the suspect with CVAC.

Last Thursday at about 10:30 a.m., Jack Sare and Wilfredo Mata, CVAC members, saw the suspect passing by their office and made a citizen’s arrest.

The suspect, who claimed to have arrived in Manila only last May, gave 237 Cadema street, Letre Road, Malabon as her address in her application. The place is only a few blocks away from where she really resides.

Julie Mahipos, senior officer of Valiant Employment Agency in Better Living Subdivision, Paranaque City, said that Vallera applied as a housemaid last June 2 and Bautista hired her the next day.

But on the afternoon of June 6, only three days after, the Bautistas were surprised to learn that Vallera was already gone, their master’s bedroom was in disarray and their jewelry box also missing.

In a confrontation at the CIDG office, Vallera admitted robbing her employers after two pawnshop receipts, bearing the name Michelle Sy, which she said was an alias she used in pawning the jewelry, were confiscated from her by CIDG agents.

Vallera, who at first was hesitant to talk when asked for comment about the case, said she was instructed by her friends never to admit any wrongdoing once apprehended by the authorities.

"My friends told me never to talk to the police but since this is only the first time that I got involved in this kind of activity, I cooperated with them," she said.

She denied being a member of any group, but said she has a male companion who accompanied her to Manila from Cebu.

The CIDG-NFO turned over the suspect to the Paranaque authorities for the proper filing of charges.