Woman posing as patient steals from doctors in Luzon clinics

A woman was arrested after allegedly stealing from doctors in different clinics and hospitals in Luzon.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman on Thursday, the suspect allegedly posed as a patient seeking consultation, a patient's relative, or a medical representative. When presented with the opportunity as doctors go out of the room, she immediately runs off with her loot like wallets or other valuables.

“Madalas po kasi itong nagpapangggap na pasyente, kamag-anak ng pasyente at minsan po nagpapanggap po ito na medical representative,” said Muntinlupa Police spokesperson Captain Aminoden Mangonday.

“Mabilis po ang pangyayari. Biglang may person na lumapit sa bag ko, tangay na po yung wallet ko. Then after 30 minutes, nagkaroon na po ako ng unauthorized bank transaction,” said victim Doctor “Jessie."

(It all happened so fast. A person suddenly went near my bag and took my wallet. Then after 30 minutes, there was already an unauthorized bank transaction.)

In 30 minutes, the suspect made around P40,000 worth of transactions using the doctor's credit card.

The incident with Doctor Jessie was caught on CCTV, which showed the suspect entering the clinic and scouting the area.

“Di mo po kasi aakalain eh kasi nga matanda, maayos yung pananamit so di mo s’ya pag iisipan na may masamang gagawin,” said Doctor Jessie.

(You wouldn’t expect it because she was old, wearing nice clothes, so you wouldn’t think she would do something bad.)

The suspect was caught red-handed in a clinic in Lipa, Batangas.

“Naabutan po siya ng doktor dun sa isang restricted area po mismo, dun sa ospital ng Lipa Medics,” said Mangonday.

 (One of the doctors caught her in the restricted area at the Lipa Medics Hospital)

While she used a different name, Doctor Jessie was able to positively identify the suspect.

The Muntinlupa Police also discovered that the suspect was facing complaints for the same crime in Antipolo, Baguio, Quezon City, Batangas, Pangasinan and Tarlac. She had victimized at least 40 doctors in the past three years, the report said.

“Similarly, ang mga nangyari sa kanila was they’re on duty, nasa hospital, the same complaint sila o clinic then while they’re attending to their patients, meron isang di umanong babae na pumapasok doon at kinuha ang kanilang gamit,” said the victims’ lawyer Eric Joseph Aguinaldo.

(Similarly, what happened to them was while they were on duty at the hospital or clinic while attending to their patients, a woman allegedly entered the room and stole items.)

Police said that it has yet to determine whether the suspect had any accomplices.

Meanwhile, Aguinaldo appealed to concerned banks to give the doctors refunds for the unauthorized purchases

“Have also the compassion to help these doctors get a refund for these unauthorized transactions,” he said.— Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News