Robbers hit remittance outlet

CEBU, Philippines - A money remittance outlet was robbed by two unidentified armed men past 12 noon yesterday in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

The two robbers carted away over P40,000 cash from Western Union and undetermined amount of cash and valuables from the three employees.

Guadalupe Police Station chief Senior Inspector Allan Rosario said the robbery incident was reported to them 20 minutes late.

Rosario said the Cebu City Police Office tried to activate the “Oplan Universe” where all police stations conducted checkpoints to intercept the robbers. However, the culprits, who boarded a motorcycle after the heist, were nowhere to be found.

Rosario said the Western Union outlet does not have a security guard but it has a functional security camera.

“Walang guard unlike sa other financial institutions na may harang, sila open talaga,” Rosario said.

Based on the closed circuit television footage, one of the robbers was about 5’5” in height, wearing ball cap, and black t-shirt entered the establishment at 12:30 p.m. pretending to be a customer.

Few minutes later his companion wearing a helmet and a black t-shirt also entered and declared the holdup.

 “Mga 12:30 pumasok, nag-declare ng hold up…pinakita ang baril, pistol. Pagka-declare ng holdup sila na mismo ang nag-ransack sa mga drawer,” Rosario said.

The robbers casually walked outside and fled on board a motorcycle.

Rosario is hopeful that the robbers will be identified soon because of the footage.

“May angle kasi na nakita ang mukha, we’ll try na ma-enhance ng cctv. Actually ima-match pa natin sa personalities na involved sa tulis,” he said.

Residents near the Western Union outlet were surprised to learn about the robbery because they did not notice anything unusual.

It was the first money remittance outlet to be robbed in the city following the city government’s order to suspend the business permits of several financial institutions which do not have security guards. — /FPL   (FREEMAN)