A jeweler and his companion were robbed by four unidentified suspects, who allegedly posed as police officers, in Barangay 174, North Caloocan. The victims lost an estimated P272,000 in cash, two cellphones, and identification cards.

The jeweler, identified only as “Jun,” told police the incident began after he was contacted on his Facebook page on 13 October by a woman offering to sell jewelry. Jun said he became comfortable with the transaction after the woman engaged in a video call with him and sent a photo taken inside a grocery store that included another woman who was supposedly selling the items.

Jun and his hired rider, “Nestor,” went to the address provided for the meetup. However, instead of the sellers, they were met by four men on two motorcycles.

“They introduced themselves as police,” Jun said. “But they made us lie face down in front of a coffee shop in the dark. They took my cellphone and my bag containing cash before speeding away. We didn’t resist because they were carrying guns. I thought they would shoot us because the guns were cocked.”