'Prominent' family in Mandaluyong loses P15M to 'Dugo-Dugo' gang

A prominent family in Mandaluyong City lost at least P15 million in cash and valuables to the so-called "Dugo-Dugo" gang before dawn Thursday. Police are now investigating the members of the household on the circumstances surrounding the incident, radio dzBB reported. The report withheld the name of the victimized family, only saying they are prominent and are residing in Wack-Wack village. An initial investigation showed a member of the gang called up the victim family's residence and told one of the helpers that a member of the family had been in an accident. Upon the caller's instructions to produce cash for hospital expenses, the helper broke the safety vault and took cash and jewelry amounting to P15 to 20 million. The victimized family sought police assistance upon learning of the incident. A police investigator had described the "Dugo-Dugo" gang as a group of swindlers who usually call to inform a member of a household that a relative or an employer had been in an accident so they could trick the person at the other end of the line into handing over valuables that the hurt person supposedly needs. — LBG, GMA News