'Salisi' gang attacks diner

CEBU, Philippines - A few days after the strict security enforced in Mandaue City due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meetings ended, a "salisi" gang struck the city yet again.

A 28-year-old sales officer lost his cash and valuables yesterday to an alleged salisi gang member in a fast-food restaurant inside a mall on A.S. Fortuna Street, Barangay Bakilid.

Kevin Gil Zamoras was having lunch in the restaurant when an unidentified man took his bag, phone, and wallet.

Senior Police Officer 1 Allain Carado, desk officer of Subangdaku Police Station, said Zamoras placed his belongings on the seat beside the one he occupied. After eating, he used his other cellphone and did not notice anybody going near his place, according to the affidavit he executed.

When he was about to leave, he then noticed that his belongings were no longer there.

Zamoras immediately asked the assistance of the restaurant's staff and the mall's security personnel who then reviewed the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footages of the restaurant. They saw a man sit near the table occupied by Zamoras.

Zamoras assumed that the man was the one who took away his belongings, including his Iphone 6 worth P40,000 and wallet containing his driver's license, identification cards, ATM cards, P30,000 cash, and $200 cash.

Superintendent Mark Anthony Bastes, chief of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office, said they have requested the restaurant to allow them to view the footage for their investigation.

Last August 27, an engineer was also victimized by two alleged members of salisi gang inside a food stall in a mall in the North Reclamation Area.

Arnel Osorno of Deca Homes, Barangay Tipolo lost his sling bag containing P50,000 cash to unidentified perpetrators who were composed of a man and a four-year-old girl, based on the CCTV footage of the food stall. — Jave A. Matugas (FREEMAN)