POLICE on Wednesday warned the public against a new modus operandi used by two female con artists, who got away with P100,000 in jewelry, after duping their victim at the Baguio public market early Tuesday morning.

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The warning was issued after the suspects, Lyn Parafina de Vega and Maria Elsa Mendiola, sought the help of a housewife to look for an abortionist for one of them, and then requested her to pawn an expensive-looking ring for them.

The victim was identified as Josephine Limmayog Pedronan, 41, a resident of 3037 Purok 3, Kias.

According to Pedronan, she was about to buy something at the Baguio hangar market when she was approached by the two suspects, who asked her if she knew anyone who performs abortions.

When she exclaimed what they wanted to do was both illegal and immoral, they showed her a very expensive-looking gold ring which was studded with what looked like a number of precious stones, and requested her to pawn it for them as she was more mature and credible-looking than any of them.

However, by the time they reached the corner of Hilltop Road and Magsaysay Avenue, the suspects asked her to give them something so she would not run off with their expensive-looking ring while they waited for her in a liquor bar near a pawnshop there.

Having gained her trust by then, she removed her pair of earrings and two rings, and left it with them, before she went off to pawn their expensive-looking ring.

But, after she had the ring appraised in the pawnshop nearby, she was surprised to find the expensive-looking ring was worthless; and immediately returned to the liquor bar where she left the two young women.

It was only then, after finding they had already left, that she realized that she was duped.

Taken by the perpetrators were a pair of gold earrings valued at P35,000; a gold wedding ring worth P40,000; and another gold ring bought for P25,000. (ENO)

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(November 20, 2008 issue)
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