House helper duped by ‘swindler’; employer’s P15-million cash, jewelry lost

MANILA, Philippines—Roughly more than P15-million worth of cash and jewellery were lost after a house helper allegedly fell for a suspected swindler who claimed that her bosses got involved in an accident and that they need all the contents inside her employer’s safety vault.

In a report, Mandaluyong police said the complainant was Luz Yap, 79, whose house was located on Princeton Street in Barangay (village) Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City.

Police said the incident, which was reported to authorities around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, transpired when Yap’s house helper, Diana Balse, allegedly received a phone call from an unidentified woman claiming that Yap and her driver were engaged in a vehicular accident.

The suspect then instructed Balse to forcibly open the vault inside the house’s master’s bedroom and to bring her the valuables inside.

The items inside were P6 million cash, US80,000 dollars, and assorted jewellery worth around P8.5 million.

Police said Balse did as told using a steel bar, and subsequently met with the suspect along Sangandaan, Caloocan City where she handed the valuables.

The suspect—described to be around 28 to 35 years old, medium built, fair complexion, and wearing yellow T-shirt and maong pants—fled after receiving the items, police said.

The case was placed for follow-up investigation.