A JOINT hot pursuit operation involving police units and the military ran in circles after a reported daylight robbery-holdup in Bunawan District turned out to be completely fabricated by a wife lying to her husband.
The Bunawan Police Station officially declared the incident a hoax after the “victim,” identified as Vanessa, confessed to inventing the entire crime to cover up spending P6,000 of her family’s money.
The incident was reported to Central 911 at around 9:30 a.m. on June 6, 2026, which dispatched Bunawan police officers to a suspected armed robbery.
Vanessa initially claimed that while walking home, an unidentified man in a blue helmet threatened her with a knife and stole her wallet containing P7,000 in cash before escaping on a black XRM motorcycle with a getaway driver.
Taking the armed threat seriously, the Bunawan Police Station, Davao City Police Office SWAT, City Mobile Force Company, and 1003rd Infantry Brigade immediately launched a manhunt.
However, investigators hit a wall when a meticulous review of all CCTV footage at the entry and exit points of the alleged crime scene showed absolutely no trace of the described motorcycle or suspects.
Following a thorough interrogation by Bunawan police OIC Capt. Ramil Anthony Maxey and duty Women and Children’s Police Desk SSg Abegail Ugoban, Vanessa broke down and admitted that no robbery ever took place.
She confessed to lying in fear of her husband’s reaction after she spent P6,000 of the cash.
However, despite triggering a heavy deployment of tactical government resources, Vanessa will escape jail time.
On Sunday afternoon, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero confirmed that authorities will no longer file a criminal charge for giving false information against the woman, noting that she has already issued a formal public apology.
