ILOILO – Employees of a delivery company lost P1.7 million to holdup men in Barangay Rumbang, Pototan yesterday.
Police identified the victims as Mila Mhar Gente, 23, finance administrative officer of the cargo express and a resident of Badiangan town, and Egardo Abido, 29, of Lopez Jaena Street, Pototan.
According to Police Major Ciriaco Esquilarga, Pototan police chief, the two were onboard a motorcycle around 8:30 a.m.
“They were supposed to deposit the money to the PNB (Philippine National Bank) in the town (Pototan),” Esquilarga said.
He added that while the motorcycle was moving, two of the three suspects crossed the road then suddenly pulled the backpack of Gente where the P1.7 million was placed.
Gente reportedly stumbled down. At gunpoint, the two suspects grabbed the backpack then rode on a motorcycle driven by another suspect who was allegedly on standby.
The three suspects were seen headed to Barotac Nuevo town.
“They did not ask us for an escort even if they were carrying a huge sum of money,” said Esquilarga.
The robbers were wearing facemasks and black jackets. They were also armed with short firearms.
Esquilarga said investigation was ongoing.
The police are not discounting the possibility of an inside job, or that someone may have given information about the time and day the money would be deposited.
Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), ordered a thorough investigation.
He also appealed to establishment owners to ask for police assistance and invest in security
“We are very much open to extending our security assistance when their personnel deposit in the bank,” Gorero said. “We are here to help them secure their money because it is our obligation.”
Gorero also ordered his men to strengthen their barangay information network and intensify police presence
This was the second big robbery this month.
On July 10, two men carted away P1.5 million from a money remittance center in Calinog town.
At gunpoint, a cashier was ordered to hand over all the cash inside their vault.
Police said an accomplice with a motorcycle was apparently waiting outside. The suspects quickly fled using a red motorcycle./PN
