Hypnosis and lies? Teacher loses P100T

A RETIRED school teacher told police she was victimized by three people, who claimed they were friends of her son-in-law and asked her to withdraw P100,000 from a bank in Carcar City.

While the three got her cash, jewelry and mobile phone, 67-year-old Luzviminda Divinagracias said she felt as if she was “hypnotized.”

“She couldn’t move, she couldn’t even talk to anyone and she was allegedly hypnotized by the suspects,” a report of the initial investigation by the Carcar Police Station read.

Hypnosis and lies? Teacher loses P100T

Divinagracias identified the suspects as a certain Rosales, Gilbert Abad and Minche Getapalane.

She said she went to a mall in Carcar to buy something, and the three suspects approached her at 2:30 p.m. The three, according to her, claimed they wanted to give something to her, so they escorted her into a sports utility vehicle.

The woman said she forgot to note what the vehicle’s brand or plate number was, as it was not something she had thought about when she stepped into it, said Carcar City Police Chief Teodulfo Manatad III.

She noted that Abad must have stood 5’7”; Getapalane, 4’11” with a dark brown complexion; and Rosales, at least 5’0” with a slim body.

While they were in- side the vehicle, the suspects reportedly asked her if she has a passbook so she could withdraw some funds.

Escorted

One of them then accompanied Divinagracias inside the Land Bank and told her to withdraw P100,000.

When she received from the bank teller an envelope containing the cash, she said, the suspects then told her to put in the envelope her ring, earrings and a Cherry Mobile phone.

The suspects then left her alone. Divinagracias said it was too late when she realized she had been swindled, as she could not move a limb nor speak.

Manatad, in a signed police report, said his station is conducting followup operations. Whether or not Divinagracias was hypnotized, hasn’t been confirmed yet.

A day before that, another woman was victimized by a group of armed robbers, one of whom is allegedly a woman, in the town of Consolacion at 9:30 p.m.

Jocelyn Semblante, a 34-year-old businesswoman, reported to the town police she lost P100,000 cash, a MyPhone unit worth P1,600, a smartphone worth P6,900 and a Star Mobile unit worth P2,700.

She said she had just arrived home from Consolacion Public Market when a motorcycle stopped in front of her and one of its passengers pointed a .45 gun at her.

Consolacion police pursued and arrested Gisele Naya Aton, 40, who reportedly served as a lookout of the motorcycleriding robbers.

Aton’s alleged involvement in the crime is backed by statements sworn by residents Karen Escalderon, 25, and Arvi Padin, 18.

Aton is detained in the station’s holding cell while criminal complaints against her are being prepared. DTJ