KALIBO, Aklan — A Japanese national fell victim to pickpocketing while enjoying the Ati-Atihan Festival Zone on Saturday, January 17, turning what was meant to be a festive visit into a distressing experience.
The victim, identified as Yamashita Masahiro, a native of Osaka, Japan, said he was vlogging for his YouTube channel when the incident occurred. He later noticed that his bag was already open and his wallet was missing.
At first, Yamashita thought he might have misplaced or dropped the wallet, prompting him to immediately report the incident to the Kalibo Municipal Police Station.
However, a review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in Kalibo revealed that a female suspect allegedly pickpocketed the victim.
The stolen wallet reportedly contained around P50,000 in cash, along with Japanese yen and US dollars, as well as identification cards and credit cards. Yamashita also disclosed that more than P300,000 worth of transactions were charged to his credit card, which he believes were made by the suspect.
Beyond the financial loss, the victim said the wallet held significant sentimental value as it previously belonged to his late father.
Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend the suspect./PN
