Bank management sends team to investigate PenBank robbery

The management of Mindanao Rural Bank based in General Santos City has sent a team to investigate the robbery of Peninsula Rural Bank in Mandaue City, which is one of its branches.

This development came as the Federation of Rural Banks in Cebu called on its members to beef-up their security following the spate of robbery incidents in Metro Cebu.

Jaime Vargas, vice president of the Mindanao Rural Bank that owns PenBank, yesterday said that they have already sent to Cebu two security officers to investigate the incident.

Vargas said the in-house investigation is aimed at looking into possible administrative liabilities of its employees. Vargas admitted that part of their investigation is to explore the possibility that it was an “inside job” and all bank employees, including the manager, are considered suspects.

The bank’s president, Robert Sy Cantoy, also arrived in Cebu yesterday to personally supervise the investigation.

Vargas however refused to give comment on the observation that the bank management was very lax in terms of security.

According to Vargas, security matters are confidential and that he is yet to receive the complete report on the incident.

Ismael Carolino, vice president of the Federation of Rural Banks in Cebu, yesterday said the spate of robberies in Metro Cebu has alarmed them. He called on their members to beef-up their security.

Carolino said, the federation is also expected to discuss the security problem during their membership meeting on August 28. Carolino said banks are supposed to have an alarm system, which is a requirement set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The members of the Mandaue City Council yesterday passed a resolution calling on all banks and financial institutions in the city to form an association so that they can exchange ideas and prevent similar incidents.

The city council also approved the released of P10,000 reward for anyone who can pinpoint the identity of the robbers that would lead to their arrest.

Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna also released to the media the copy of the cartographic sketch of the two suspects.

The city council also moved for the banks to adopt a robbery threat level alarm system.

Carolino said, as a matter of procedure, a security officer or somebody should be assigned to push the button in times of crisis situation like robberies to alert the law enforcers.

Carolino explained that surveillance cameras are not among those listed as basic requirements by the BSP for the security system of banks. However, Carolino said, it is an option for the bank management to set up surveillance cameras to boost their security.

Mandaue City Police chief Alexander Abadinas noted that PenBank was lax in their security.

Abadinas said the bank did not have a surveillance camera and while they have an alarm system they failed to use it during the robbery.

Abadinas also cited lapses of the bank management to maintain the usual number of security guards on duty.

According to Abadinas, the bank usually has two security guards, but during the robbery it only had one guard, who also abandoned his post to go to the comfort room.

The door was left only with a driver who let the robbers in upon the permission of the bank tellers.

Abadinas said that the bank management should have asked for a reliever from the security agency for the other guard who went on leave.

The police chief however refused to conclude that there was an inside job, but he said it is one of the angles that they are looking into.

Abadinas said they will also ask the guard on duty, Junilo Jumawan, to submit to a polygraph test.

He cited the coincidence of Jumawan going to the comfort room when the robbers struck and that the robbers have already left when he returned to his post. Abadinas however clarified that Jumawan is not a suspect.

Rodolfo Atega, an alleged member of the Bohol Robbery Group, has been tagged by witnesses as one of the two men, who robbed the bank.

The same group is believed responsible for the robbery of an armored van outside La Nueva Supermart last week in Cebu City.

The Police Regional Office-7 yesterday called for a meeting with the Cebu Bankers Association and the organization of security agencies.

PRO-7 director Silverio Alarcio yesterday said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss counter measures that they can take against robberies.

Among the proposals was for banks to hire only licensed security guards, who have undergone the proper proficiency training and with the proper equipment.

A special training for armored van escorts will also be conducted. – Fred P. Languido, Mitchelle L. Palalubsanon and Flor Z. Perolina/NLQ