Gunmen pull off heist on cooperative office

Robbers have struck again, this time victimizing a cooperative office along Borbajo Street, barangay Talamban yesterday morning.

The three robbers, who remain unidentified, took more than P50,000 from Natcco Network People's Cooperative in what authorities said was the second robbery to hit the city this year.

One of the robbers wore a bonnet while the other wore sunglasses. They were all armed with still undetermined caliber of firearms.

The cooperative's cashier, Joy Atamosa, told reporters that while she was sitting in front of the table, one of the robbers carrying a black bag suddenly poked a gun at her and declared the robbery.

She said before they escaped, the robbers cut the wires of their computer and telephone, adding that the money taken by the robbers was their collection last December 29.

The coop's information officer, Baltazar Eduyan, said the robbers casually walked in and said they are looking for Mr. Fernandez. But Eduyan said he was surprised when one of them immediately declared the robbery.

Eduyan said one of the robbers fired his gun while they were searching for money in the drawers. He believed that the robbers were members of the cooperative since they were familiar with the drawers.

After the robbery, the robbers then boarded a green multicab and sped off towards the Talamban Sports Complex.

Witness Miriam Saulo said she was about to enter the cooperative's office to sell rice to its employee but one of the robbers barred her.

S/Inspector Alexis Relado, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office, told reporters that they are still investigating the incident. He said they would put all the employees of the cooperative under lie detector test to determine whether or not the incident is an inside job.

Meanwhile, newly installed city police director S/Supt. Patrocinio Comendador vowed that they would go after the robbers.

During a press conference yesterday, Comendador said he would realign the beat patrol to possible targets of robbers such as financial establishments.

He said their intelligence division would go after notorious personalities, especially those who posted bail, following the arrest yesterday of the suspects in the robbery of a money lending firm the other day.

The suspects were reportedly freed on bail when they robbed the Yusay Credit and Finance Corporation of P50,000.

Police identified the suspects as Ronillo Nuñez and Doroteo Imperial, both from Ozamiz City. The two have been tagged in several robbery incidents in Metro Cebu.

Comendador said the series of robbery cases in the city is a big challenge for him. - Norvie S. Misa/LPM