Crime does not pay, Bacolod City police director Senior Supt. Pedro Merced said when the BCPO yesterday discovered that the reported robbery of a "balikbayan" at the Bacolod Reclamation area Wednesday morning was a hoax.

Merced said Marlyn Bahian Saniel, 33, of Mangahan Street, Purok Barreto, Olongapo City, who had earlier identified herself as "Myca Bahin Kintanar" will suffer the consequences of putting the Bacolod police in a bad light and falsely reporting the fake robbery.

Saniel, who claimed to be a bank teller of the Bank of America in San Diego, Califormia, USA, is now detained in the lock-up cell of Police Precinct 2 for charges of perjury, use of fictitious name, concealment of her true name, and incriminating an innocent person.

Saniel and her cousin, Armina Samodin Abu Bakar, alias "Armina Guillermo" had reported to Police Precinct 2 that they were held up by two unidentified persons while the former was relieving herself in a grassy portion of the Bacolod reclamation area.

After interrogation by Police Precinct 2 commander Insp. Levy Pangue and BCPO investigators at the Bacolod police headquarters yesterday, Abu Bakar admitted that she and Saniel were only creating a "scenario" so they could get help for their fare back to Manila City, Merced said.

Abu Bakar said she was not aware that her cousin had been held up because she was not visible among the tall grass. On the other hand, Saniel insisted she was really held up and that Abu Bakar knew what had happened and was only "making up stories".

She also said she had only used her nickname but could not reveal the reasons why.

"I was the complainant, why then will I be put to jail", she asked in tears.

Meanwhile, the 17-year-old boy detained in the lock-up cell of Precinct 2 Wednesday who was pinpointed by Saniel as one of the hold-uppers, was released from jail yesterday.

Gloria Ragomeo, mother of the boy and several neighbors marched to the police station asking for his release from jail where he was replaced by Saniel.

Ragomeo said her family will press charges against Saniel for dragging his son into the crime.

Meanwhile, Insp. Levy Pangue, Police Precinct 2 commander yesterday said he noted many inconsistencies in the allegations of Saniel.

Pangue said Saniel has no records in the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation in Manila supporting her claim of being a "balikbayan". She also preferred to speak in Tagalog during investigation, although she claimed to have been working in the United States for 12 years.

He also wanted to know why Saniel answered the call of nature in the grassy area of the Bacolod Reclamation, which seemed to be improper for a "balikbayan".*DMG

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