QC gov't warns senior citizens vs ‘birthday cake’ modus

The Quezon City government on Saturday warned senior citizens to be vigilant amid reports of criminal elements offering "birthday cakes" in order to enter and rob their homes.

“Hinihikayat ang ating mga senior citizen na huwag basta-basta magbubukas ng pinto o magpapapasok ng mga hindi kilalang tao sa kanilang tahanan. Mahalaga ang kaligtasan, kaya’t makabubuting tiyakin muna ang pagkakakilanlan ng sinumang kumakatok o umiikot sa inyong komunidad,” QC said in a statement.

(Our senior citizens are encouraged not to open doors or let strangers into their homes. Safety is paramount, so it is a good idea to first verify the identity of anyone knocking or roaming around your community.)

The Quezon City local government also clarified that it is not distributing birthday cakes but packages of grocery items.

“Sa halip, ang ibinibigay ng lungsod ay BIRTHDAY PACKAGES na naglalaman ng mga pangunahing grocery items tulad ng gatas, pasta at sauce bundle, biscuit, at iba pang produktong makatutulong sa kalusugan ng ating mga lolo at lola,” it explained.

(Instead, what the city is providing are BIRTHDAY PACKAGES containing basic grocery items such as milk, pasta and sauce bundles, biscuits, and other products that will help the health of our grandparents.)

The birthday packages are distributed every month through barangay officials, based on the official list of QCitizens with their senior citizen IDs. Each barangay also sets a schedule when beneficiaries or their representatives can collect the said package.

The Quezon City government urged the public to visit and follow its official communication channels and their respective barangays, such as Facebook pages and websites. They may also call QC Helpline 122 for inquiries about government programs and services.

“Sa ating mga minamahal na QCitizen na lolo at lola, patuloy po kayong mag-ingat. May mga indibidwal na maaaring manamantala sa inyong kalagayan. Sa mga kaanak, hinihiling namin ang inyong pakikiisa sa patuloy na pagpapaalala sa ating mga nakatatanda tungkol sa kanilang kaligtasan,” it said.

(To our beloved QCitizen grandparents, continue to be careful. There are individuals who may take advantage of your situation. To the relatives, we ask for your cooperation in continuing to remind our elders about their safety.)

Thieves

On Tuesday, a 69-year-old grandmother and her two grandchildren were tied up and robbed in their own house in Novaliches, Quezon City, by thieves who pretended to be delivering a birthday cake provided by the local government.

“Ang modus po ng mga suspek po natin ay kakatok sila sa gate and may ibibigay daw na birthday cake si mayor sa isang senior citizen,” said Police Lieutenant Dave Anthony Capurcos, Commander ng QCPD Station 4.

(The modus of the suspects was that they would knock on the gate and say that the mayor would give a birthday cake to a senior citizen.)

The suspects eventually gained the trust of the grandmother and let them into the house where she was with her two grandchildren.

After entry, the suspects pulled out a gun, tied up the victims, and began robbing the house. —VAL, GMA News