While inside hotel: Salisi gang members take photographer’s camera

CEBU, Philippines - A photographer almost lost his camera and other items after he was victimized by alleged “Salisi” gang members while inside a hotel in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City last Saturday night.

Clint Caingles, 30, a personal photographer residing in Barangay Sambag 1 was victimized by three women and a man all believed to be members of robbery gang “Salisi.”

Caingles, in an interview, said he was waiting for his driver at the lobby of the said hotel at past 8 p.m. on Saturday when his camera bag, which he placed at a table nearby together with his laptop bag, went missing.

“Kumpiyansa lang pud g’yud kaayo ko kay hotel lagi,” he said, adding that the culprits must have not noticed his laptop bag.

The bag stolen contained the victim’s camera and other items amounting to close to P174,000, said Caingles.

He then immediately reported the incident to the management of the hotel and viewed the footage of the closed-circuit-television camera installed in the place.

The footage showed four persons apparently conniving with each other to get the bag.

A woman appeared to have stood in front of Caingles apparently to block his sight from his things while her cohorts took the victim’s camera bag.

Caingles said he went to the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office and reported the incident.

The TRS personnel were able to identify one of the culprits.

However, the victim said he was not satisfied with this so he also went to the Mandaue City Police Office, which have identified all suspects and also located their addresses.

Yesterday afternoon, MCPO personnel went to the residence of the suspects where a supposed representative turned over the items stolen from Caingles.

Caingles said the items were returned by the culprits in a condition that he would not file charges against them.

The victim, however, said he is still thinking whether he should file charges against the culprits or not.  (FREEMAN)