POLICE have arrested five people who are allegedly responsible for pickpocket and “budol-budol” (form of street swindling) incidents in Cagayan de Oro City, Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Arrested were Maricel Rongcalla, 24, and Blitz Lyam Onde, 20, both residents of Youngsville, Igpit in Opol, Misamis Oriental; Teresita Pasaylo, 43, of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; Jovelyn Juntilla, 44, resident of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental; and Gina Pardillo, 53, of Lapayan, Iligan City.

The group yielded a caliber 38 revolver and a hand grenade.

Viñas said the suspects are now detained and will likely face charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

The arrest was a result of an intelligence monitoring inside a big store in Cogon.

Operatives caught one of the suspects in the act of preying on an elderly inside the grocery section of the store.

Authorities followed the suspect as he boarded a vehicle together with other respondents. A brief chase ensued and the suspects were cornered on CM Recto highway.

Major Evan Viñas, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said the suspects were allegedly responsible for “budol-budol” incidents in the city where they prey on elderly women.

“Gani ang police sa Dipolog nagpadayag nga mao hapon to mga suspects didto sa ilang area,” Vinas said. (Alwen Saliring)