Two arrested persons admitted swindling of 20-year-old victim

A woman and her gay companion were arrested by police authorities for swindling a woman inside a mall in Mandaue City on Thursday afternoon.

The suspects were identified as Velbeth Fernandez, 41, and her companion Joel Dupla, 33, both residents of Barangay San Jose, Catmon, Cebu.

According to Chief Insp. Aldrin Villacampa of Centro police station, the suspects approached Lorgesa Ruta, 20, pretending to ask for help by asking Ruta to keep three bundles of money, with each bundle placed inside a sock.

Lorgesa entrusted her mobile phone and money worth P3,000 in exchange of the bundle of money from the suspects.

But the victim, who doubted the suspects, immediately checked the socks and saw boodle money.
It prompted Lorgesa to ask help from a security guard, which later resulted in the apprehension of the suspects by the police.

Fernandez admitted to being engaged in a similar modus in the past and explained that she committed the crime because she needed money.

Dupla also admitted to committing the crime and has been doing the modus a few months after he was released from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

He was previously imprisoned due to swindling.

Dupla further admitted that illegal drug use prompted him to swindle.

Villacampa urged other victims to identify the suspects for the filing of additional cases.