Reluya couple loses money, firearm to burglars

CEBU, Philippines - A soft drink warehouse owned by a barangay captain and an ex-mayor of San Fernando lost almost P270,000 and a high caliber firearm to burglars.

Eric Campaña, the warehouse cashier, discovered the burglary last Tuesday morning. Police surmise the burglary might have happened dawn on the same day or evening on Monday.

The warehouse is owned by Panadtaran Barangay Captain Ricardo Reluya and his wife, former San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya. The couple’s house is located just a few meters from the warehouse.

Campaña said he discovered that five jalousie blades at the back portion of the office have been detached. The steel cabinet where the cash and the 12-gauge Akkar shotgun were kept was already open. The mailing envelop where the cash was placed was found above the steel cabinet.

The shotgun bore the license number 3543943 and was registered under YZX Trading Enterprises.

P/Insp. Carlos Reyes said the suspect(s) could have mostly likely entered the warehouse through the window. The hair puller found stuck into the lock was most likely used to open the cabinet.

Reyes said they immediately cordoned the area and requested assistance from the Scene of the Crime Operatives for gathering of evidence.

Reyes said they are looking into the possibility that the burglary was an inside job, especially that someone is in charge of looking after the warehouse at night. 

“Kahibaw sila nga dako ang kwarta unya way tarong nga lock ang drawer didto pa gyud gibutang… usa pa, made of light materials lang ang opisina,” Reyes said. The warehouse also does not have a perimeter fence.

SOCO personnel took samples of the fingerprints of all workers at the warehouse while two of them have been invited for questioning. — (FREEMAN)