By SEN GUINGGUING

The three members of the notorious Budul budol Gang based in Cebu and trying to prey on gullible Boholanos escaped prosecution after two of their previous victims refused to file any complaint. The three who used a Starex van in their supposed operations in this city were arrested by elements of the city police after they were acting suspiciously while inside the Island City Mall, this city. They were identified as William Apas, 33, married of barangay Biasong, Balamban Cebu; Ramil Biray, 38, of San Isidro Talisay and Nolita Abandan, 37 of barangay San Isidro, San Fernando, Cebu.

The police team made up of SPO1 Yolando Bagotchay,PO1 Abraham Paeste and PO2 Alberto Kudemus were on foot patrol at the ICM when they chanced upon the three. The faces of the suspects must be familiar to the policemen that they lost no time in accosting them. When police operatives were led to the van, they found inside the vehicle paraphernalia for budol-budol operations like a wad of paper with real money on top.

The suspects were immediately brought to the city police station while the apprehending policemen called on possible victims to identify the three. Of the many supposed victims who trooped to the police station, at least two of them were positive in their identity of the three as the ones who victimized them. They, however, refused to press charges. This prompted the local police according to SPO1 Rey Calimbayan to release the detained suspects since charges were being filed against the three. Meanwhile, the Starex van was impounded by authorities pending the appearance of its real owner identified in the registration paper as Janeth Candelario with address of National Capital Region.