Toledo robbery an “inside job”

CEBU, Philippines - The Toledo City police said they are inclined to believe Sunday’s robbery of the Toledo City Treasurer’s office, where over P1 million was taken (not P6 million as earlier reported), was an inside job.

This as Toledo City Mayor John Henry Osmeña requested the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate investigation into the robbery

Superintendent Ricky Delelis, Toledo City chief, said that based on their investigation the perpetrator had sufficient information that a huge amount of money was placed inside the vault.

“The culprit has personal knowledge about the money nga naa didto, kung outsider nga, supposed to be ang lahat na mga drawers dyan buksan,” Delelis said.

He said that one of person of interest is Toledo City market collector Lynmer Formento, of Barangay Daanlungsod, Toledo City, who reported the crime.  

“Atong gilantaw katong si Formento, siya rin ‘yung nag-report, ang mga tawo nga nag-kupot,” Delelis said

He said no signs of forced entry can be seen at the main entrance, they only noticed signs of forced entry in the second door where the door to the room with the vault was destroyed.

“Sa main entrance wala’y forced entry, sa first door wala’y forced entry, sa second door padulong sa vault naa, giguba ang door knob,” he said.

He said that the robbers took over P1 million, although the exact amount cannot be ascertained as vouchers are also missing. A plastic container with P95,000 was still inside the vault, overlooked by the perpetrators.

The money was intended for the salaries of teachers.

Delelis said that Formento allegedly discovered the robbery 4 p.m. Sunday but only reported it two hours later.

“Discovered around 4 p.m. naghimo siya og report kay market collector man siya, pagkahuman, when he is about to leave the place na-discover nadaot ang door knob,” Delelis said

Formento was invited for questioning but later released after police could not find anything to connect him to the burglary.

NBI asked to step in

Toledo City Mayor John Henry Osmeña has requested the NBI to step in, he also believes that some city personnel are involved in the case.

“Pabor sa akin, naa nay parallel investigation, they will conduct their own investigation,” Delelis said.

Even City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva said she believes it’s possible some of her personnel may be involved in the robbery because there were indications the robbers knew where the money was kept.

“Kon outsider pa ang mga nangawat gisulod unta nila ang akong opisina kay magtuo man g’yud nga tua ang kuwarta sa opisina sa treasurer, pero nakatultol man ang mga kawatan sa nahimutangan sa vault nga tua sa pikas building,” Oliva said.

She said that there were no signs of forcible entry into the treasurer’s office, meaning the robbers might have a duplicate key of the door. Although there was damage to the iron grills in the room where the vault was, Oliva said it could be a diversion.

“Mora ba og gipukpok lang og gamay ang puthaw aron ingnon nga duna g’yuy robbery,” Oliva said.

Oliva personally went to the Toledo City Treasurer’s Office when she was informed about the robbery Sunday night.

Scene of the Crime Operations lifted some fingerprints from the crime scene and will compare them with fingerprints of employees.

Oliva also announced that some tax collectors in Toledo City have not complied with the proper guidelines mandated by the Government Accounting and Auditing Manual, particularly the failure of tax collectors to remit daily collections to cashiers on time.

When Oliva assumed as treasurer of Toledo City last year, she immediately issued memorandums to her personnel reminding them of the state auditing procedures, but still they failed to heed them.

Citing one instance, Oliva said she found out that a tax collector failed to remit to the cashier her collections from January to May. The employee claimed she just placed the money in her vault.

She will recommend to Osmeña to impose the appropriate penalties on those who did not comply with state audit procedures.

Meanwhile, the Department of Interior and Local Government-7 will suggest to Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, president of the League of Municipal Mayors in Cebu, to meet with the PNP following series of burglaries involving treasurer’s offices.

“We cannot wait for the incident will happen to other LGUs nga sagunson na man diay ang lungkab ron sa mga treasurer’s office,” DILG-7 director Ananias Villacorta said.

The treasurer’s office of the towns of Compostela, Carmen, Sogod and Pinamungajan have all been broken into by unidentified burglars.  — With Rene U. Borromeo and Ria Mae Y. Booc/BRP (FREEMAN)