Money changer loses P300T worth of valuables to robber

CEBU, Philippines — An estimated P300,000 worth of personal items were robbed from the accounting office employees of a money changer shop along Colon Street in Cebu City, Monday morning.

Police Major Joemar Pomarejos, Waterfront Police Station chief, narrated that it was early morning on Monday that the employees of the shop discovered that several personal items were missing.

Among the items taken were laptop, company-issued phone, and personal cash.

Pomarejos said that initial count showed that the missing items were valued up to P300,000.

Police are now tracing the alleged robber who was caught in CCTV footage and has been identified.

Pomarejos, however, refused to give further information of the identity for investigation purposes. As shown on the CCTV footage, the suspect entered at the backdoor of the shop.

“Naay mga gubaon nga part didto sa warehouse, didto niagi (suspect),” Pomarejos said.

Visibility

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has directed the police authorities to improve police visibility near robbery- prone establishments following the incident.

Labella, in a meeting with Cebu City Police Office officials and mall operators on October 22, has received an assurance that there will be police visibility in robbery-prone areas, especially money changers and pawnshops, to avoid any untoward incident like the Mandaue heist.

"This is something that we should immediately look into especially that in the advent of the Christmas season these criminal elements are trying to find a way to earn a living through illegal means. We have to check in that right away," said Labella.

"I just had a meeting with the mall owners and CCPO and they assured us that everything is safe but we can never tell," he added.

Labella reminded the public to remain vigilant, especially now that the "fight against criminality has metamorphosed into a social problem."

"Dili lang ni problema sa law enforcement agencies pero kining tanan concern ni natong mga lumulupyo dinhi sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo," he said.

"Kinahanglan sad sa atong bahin sa atong mga lumulupyo nga motabang sad ta, be vigilant, be always attentive and be very much concerned sa atong mga surroundings, sa atong mga premises labi na og naay mga suspected people who are roaming around," he added.

Labella also urged the police authorities to pursue the no non-sense fight against all types of criminality, especially against illegal drugs.

He also warned the drug traders, drug lords, and drug protectors to stay out of the city.

"We will really run after you. That is in pursuant also of the call of the president that we have to be relentless in the fight against illegal drugs and criminality," said Labella. (FREEMAN)