AKLAN — Three Iranian nationals arrested at a checkpoint in Altavas, Aklan are now facing theft charges after they allegedly stole cash from a resident in the municipality of Balete using a distraction scheme, police said.
The suspects remain under police custody after they failed to post bail, according to the Balete Municipal Police Station (MPS).
Police Lt. Rezie Bulanon, officer-in-charge of the Balete MPS, said the victim, a resident of Poblacion, Balete, reported that the suspects—two men and one woman aboard a gray Mitsubishi Xpander—approached him in Sitio Bangbang, Barangay Feliciano, Balete on the afternoon of July 3.
According to the victim, one of the male suspects flagged down the vehicle he was riding and asked him to identify the differences between the old and new P500 bills. The victim showed the banknotes before the suspect asked to see a P1,000 bill.
While the victim was distracted, the suspect allegedly took all the cash from his wallet before returning to the waiting vehicle, smiling and waving goodbye as the group sped away.
The victim immediately reported the incident to the Balete police, who were then conducting simultaneous checkpoint operations. Police alerted neighboring stations, prompting the Altavas MPS to intercept the suspects at a checkpoint based on the description provided by the complainant.
The three suspects were later turned over to the Balete police for investigation.
Authorities said the victim lost about P19,000 in cash.
Police added that several other individuals later went to the Balete police station claiming they had also fallen victim to the suspects’ alleged modus operandi.
Meanwhile, the Aklan Police Provincial Office appealed to anyone who may have been victimized by the same suspects or who experienced similar fraudulent activities to immediately report the incident to the nearest police station or to the police station with jurisdiction over the area where the offense occurred.
The police said reports from additional complainants would help facilitate the filing of appropriate criminal charges and strengthen the ongoing investigation.
The Aklan PPO assured the public of its commitment to pursuing the case and urged anyone with relevant information to cooperate with authorities to help ensure justice is served./PN
