4 con gang members arrested in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Four alleged members of a confidence gang were arrested in Sampaloc, Manila Sunday night.

James Soriano, 54; Michelle Wenceslao, 34; Analyn Castro, 39; and Elma Mataa, 39, were reportedly setting up a Swedish woman at a restaurant when Senior Police Officer 1 Marlon Santos and PO2 John Teody Siguen collared them at around 7 p.m.

Police said that a few hours earlier, the suspects allegedly drugged Li Wei Yang, 35, and left her in her room at the Makati Riverside Inn.

Li told police she lost her cell phone, P400,000 from three credit cards and $1,375 to the suspects, who reportedly used skimming devices.

The woman said she was touring Intramuros when the suspects befriended her Saturday afternoon and treated her to a meal at the restaurant, to which she led Santos and Siguen using Google Maps.

The lawmen said they watched from a nearby table as the suspects set up Parisa Khosrovi and arrested them when they offered her a drink.

Khosrovi told the policemen that she was also touring Manila when the suspects befriended her.

Siguen said three other persons skimmed the victims’ credit cards while the arrested suspects were the bait. 

Records show the suspects have been in and out of jail on similar charges.  

“They are part of a bigger cell that operates in Metro Manila. Most of their victims are either tourists or rich people from other provinces who are visiting Manila,” Siguen said.