KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — A man was left shocked and dismayed after a woman he had met up with allegedly disappeared with his bag containing more than ₱100,000 in cash and jewelry worth around ₱150,000 following a brief stay at a motel in Koronadal City on Saturday afternoon, October 3, 2026.
The total value of the items reportedly taken was placed at approximately ₱250,000, based on the victim’s account.
The victim, identified only as alias “Dodong,” told authorities that he checked into a motel in the city at around 2:00 p.m. with the woman he had arranged to meet.
According to Dodong, their meeting appeared to be proceeding normally until the woman asked him to leave the motel temporarily to buy food and personal-care items outside the establishment.
Trusting the woman, Dodong reportedly went out to make the purchase. He returned at around 3:00 p.m., only to find that the room door was already locked and the woman was no longer responding to his calls or attempts to get her attention.
Growing suspicious, Dodong sought assistance from motel personnel and requested a duplicate key to access the room.
His suspicion was confirmed when he discovered that the woman had already left—and had allegedly taken his bag with her.
Inside the missing bag, according to the victim, were more than ₱100,000 in cash and jewelry valued at approximately ₱150,000.
The incident has prompted authorities to launch efforts to identify and locate the woman, who allegedly left the motel with the victim’s belongings.
Police are expected to examine available information, including motel records and possible surveillance camera footage, as part of the investigation.
Authorities have yet to announce whether the suspect has been identified or whether any of the allegedly stolen cash and jewelry have been recovered.
The incident serves as another reminder for individuals arranging meetings with people they have only recently met, particularly when substantial amounts of cash and valuables are involved. Authorities continue to urge the public to exercise caution and avoid bringing large amounts of money or expensive personal belongings when meeting unfamiliar individuals.