BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – Police are currently investigating the possible involvement of the notorious “Termite Gang” behind the Iloilo Supermart robbery in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district.
Robbers carted away approximately P1.3 million in cash.
Major Eduardo Siacon, chief of the Iloilo City Police Station 9 (ICPS 9), said the break-in occurred between midnight of August 26 and 2 a.m. of August 27.
Siacon said the method used in the robbery closely resembled the tactics employed by the Termite Gang. He however added that investigation is ongoing to confirm the identity of the responsible group.
“There’s a long-standing group known as the Termite Gang, and this matches their modus operandi. The way their crime was executed was very similar to what happened yesterday. However, we cannot conclude yet that this is the work of the Termite Gang, which is why we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether it was them or just another group that came together and decided to break-in through the grills or windows,” Siacon said yesterday.
He suspected that the robbers conducted surveillance on their target before the break-in. He noted that the robbers’ actions were precise, with the hole they dug leading directly into the establishment.
Further investigation of the ICPS 9 revealed that the robbers may have planned the heist for two to three weeks. Police said an employee of the business establishment reported hearing noises two to three weeks ago but did not see anyone working when they checked. They assumed the sounds came from a neighboring establishment, so they did not report the incident to the police.
Siacon added that the suspects gained access to the establishment through the drainage system, digging a hole into an old, unused building connected to the second floor of the supermarket where the cash vault was placed.
Police recovered tools, including a crowbar and a saw, from the drainage area, which are believed to have been used to dig the hole on the floor and wall.
Siacon also suggested that the robbers may have had an insider within the supermarket to observe and identify the best spot to breach.
He further speculated that the robbers might have brought food and water with them while working in the drainage system and emerged only at night to avoid detection.
Police said more than three suspects were involved, as three individuals were captured on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage. There may have also been lookouts and additional accomplices assisting from within the drainage system.
“We are continuing to backtrack the CCTV footage and search for possible witnesses who might have seen someone emerging from the drainage system between 12 midnight to 2 a.m. We are currently waiting for feedback to consolidate what we have recovered and use it as evidence,” Siacon added.
In response to the incident, Mayor Jerry Treñas offered a reward of P250,000 to anyone who can provide information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for supermarket heist./PN
