Cops nab 14 suspects in Baguio theft cases

SAN JOSE CITY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines—Police here on Monday arrested 14 people suspected of being part of a group of pickpockets who preyed on tourists at last week’s Baguio Flower Festival parades.

Supt. Sidney Villaflor, city police chief, said the suspects, all residents of Barangay Abar First here, were aboard a public utility jeep (PUJ) that came from Baguio and that was flagged down by policemen here.

Villaflor said police recovered from the suspects several ATM and credit cards and belongings of other people and an undetermined amount of cash.

He said the suspected leader of the group, Zenaida Fernando, 53, has at least three arrest warrants for robbery and theft issued by a court in Alaminos City, Pangasinan. One of those arrested, Jason Franco, also has an arrest warrant for robbery and theft issued by a court in this city.

Villaflor said police flagged down the PUJ rented by the suspects after receiving information that Fernando’s group was returning here from Baguio City, which hosted thousands of tourists during the Flower Festival.

“They went to Baguio on Friday to take advantage of the Panagbenga Festival,” he said.

The group, he said, used four children to distract victims.

Fernando denied she led the crime group, saying she and companions went to Baguio as tourists.

Fernando, however, said her daughter, Jenny Ann Fernando, who eluded arrest, could have been involved in petty theft because she would often go out alone while they were in Baguio.

“We only went around Burnham Park, enjoying the sights. Jenny is involved here,” she said. “She’s fast. You see, she eluded arrest.”

Zenaida and her daughter were coaccused in three warrants issued by the Alaminos court.

The other suspects said they were not thieves and merely joined the Fernandos.

“We just hitched a ride with the Fernandos so we can tour Baguio,” said Cherry Gaspar who took along her 20-year-old son. “Would I bring along my son if I planned to commit a crime?” Gaspar said.

In Baguio City, police arrested 10 suspected pickpockets and recorded seven cases of theft from Feb. 26-28. The highlight of the monthlong Panagbenga happened on Feb. 26 and 27, featuring street-dancing and floral floats. The festival ends on March 6.

Insp. Karissma Sta. Juana, Baguio police spokesperson, said the number of thefts could be higher because many cases were unreported.

Sta. Juana said most of the people arrested were not residents of Baguio City.

On Tuesday, burglars took more than P500,000 worth of laptop computers, mobile phones and cash from hotel rooms occupied by government employees from Nueva Vizcaya.

Police said the 10 employees were attending a seminar and left their rooms at the Rajah Soliman Hotel and Apartelle at 5 p.m. When they returned at 6:30 p.m., they discovered the break-in. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon, and Elmer Kristian Dauigoy, Inquirer Northern Luzon