Minor scammed by ‘dugo-dugo’ gang out of P9.5-million worth of parents’ cash, jewelry

About P8 million worth of jewelry and P1.5 in million cash were stolen after a 14-year-old was victimized by a “dugo-dugo” gang.

In Mav Gonzales' report on 24 Oras Weekend on Sunday, the father of the victim said that the child received a phone call saying that her mother had been in an accident.

“The person told her that her mother had hit a child so she badly needs money to help that child, and that the police had arrested her mother,” he said in Filipino.

The suspect then told the victim to bring her parents’ money and jewelry to Monumento in Caloocan City. She instructed the child not to answer any calls, saying that her mother’s phone had been confiscated by the police.

“Somebody also called identifying themselves as the police, so she got even more scared. So whenever we called her, she wouldn't answer,” the father said.

The victim commuted to the designated place and gave the suspect her parents' valuables, then returned home, where she was surprised to find her mother.

The suspect, identified as Roan and arrested after the police viewed CCTV footage, admitted to the crime and said said she just randomly picked a phone number.

She then begged the mother of the victim for forgiveness and said she only did it for her own child's sake. 

Some of the items were returned to the owner, while authorities are still searching for Roan's accomplice.

“In case there seems a suspicious call, they should never follow instructions given to them. Instruct your household staff to never give your landline numbers or cellphone number to strangers,” Luzon Field Office chief Police Colonel Frederick Obar reminded the public. — Giselle Ombay/BM, GMA News