4 gunmen seize P6M in Zamboanga Sibugay highway heist

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Four unidentified gunmen staged a highway robbery and seized P6 million from the manager and staff of a thrift bank Tuesday along the highway in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay, according to police.

 

The police said the manager of the One Network Bank (ONB) identified as Fritz Carnice with other bank employees and security escort based in Kabasalan town were aboard their SUV service when they were held-up at Barangay Upper Pangi about 12:20 p.m.

 

Police Superintendent Rogelio Alabata, acting spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9), said their investigation showed that the victims were on their way from Kabasalan to Ipil town to deposit the money to the DBP Ipil branch.

 

Alabata said the victims’ driver identified as Joel Calumba and Carnice claimed that they were ascending the highway when the suspects on board another SUV in front of them stopped. This prompted the victims to also stop their vehicle.

 

The victims said the four suspects, each armed with caliber .45 pistols, alighted, rushed towards them and declared the hold-up. They added that one of the suspects disarmed and pistol-whipped their security escort before taking the cash deposit. The robbers then fled towards the direction of Ipil town.

 

Alabata said the local police in Ipil failed to intercept the suspects who made their escape for good. However, he said police forces in surrounding towns have been alerted.

 

Alabata said police have also conducted an investigation on the bank personnel, stating the possibility of an inside job.

 

He said the police also took facial sketches of the suspects and were reviewing CCTV camera footage to identify the robbers.