Twin jewelry robbery incidents: Wide manhunt for six suspects

CEBU, Philippines — Other law enforcement agencies have joined in the investigation and follow up operations against the six unidentified men who robbed two neighboring jewelry stores in Cebu City last Thursday, taking with them around P15 million worth of items.

In particular, a task group would be formed to focus on the incident, where Macy’s Jewelry Store and D’Gold Chain (DGC) Jewelry Store on Calderon St. in Brgy. Ermita were victimized around 11:45 a.m. last Thursday.

This, as Cebu City acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said in a press conference that he is giving P100,000 in personal money as reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of the robbery incident.

“The reward is P100,000 to whoever can lead to the arrest of these individuals who perpetuated the (robbery),” he said.

Garcia also said that businessmen and friends, who are concerned with the situation, have also promised to contribute to the amount.

On the 48-hour notice he gave CCPO to solve the robbery, he reiterated that he is very serious about it.

“Kung naay ma-identify na nila and then hot pursuit operations nalang, then that's something I might consider. But, of course, akong marching order gyud kay masikop na gyud ang tanan. Nag-progress na man gyud; dili sa tanan, pero naa lay masikop usa, duha, tulo, kato na man sila ang mopiyait,” he said.

In a separate press conference yesterday, Carbon Police Station chief Philip John Libres said PNP units in Central Visayas and other security agencies, like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), are now cooperating in the ongoing investigation to identify the masked perpetrators, who fled from the scene using three motorcycles.

Relevant government agencies, like the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), are also joining the task group.

As update on their investigation, authorities revealed that they recovered a motorcycle and a helmet that may be one of the three motorcycles used by the robbers.

The motorcycle was found abandoned on P. Burgos Street in Cebu City at around 2:00 am yesterday, or just a few blocks from where the robbery happened. The motorcycle still has a key in the ignition when found.

Libres said that based on surveillance cameras footage, the motorcycle and the red helmet were to that used by the six men.

With the help of LTO, a macro-etching test will be conducted in order to identify the owner of the motorcycle.

Also, the police said the robbers likely came from outside Cebu since they spoke Tagalog instead of Cebuano. Witnesses said they heard them shouting words like, “Dapa, dapa” (lie face down) and “Tapos na” (we’re done).

Authorities are now keeping particular attention on key entry and exit points, such as ports in Cebu and the surrounding neighboring islands, like Bohol, where the robbers would try leaving to where they came from.

Another angle that authorities are verifying is the possible connection of the incident to the robbery on the Oro Sugbo Pawnshop and Jewelry Store on Colon St. November last year.

“Pinaka-close gyud nga pareha sa Oro Sugbo. The way sila nga ni-perform, execution nila mura’g naa sad tay gikuan nga katong gadala og long firearm, so mura’g naay similarities nga siya gihapoy nagdala atong last,” Libres said.

It was also learned that Macy’s Jewelry Store did not have a security guard while D’Gold Chain (DGC) Jewelry Store only had one when the robbers struck. Both establishments have no alarm system as well.

Libres said that had there been an alarm, they could have possibly responded and came to scene immediately.

“Dako gyud kaayo siyag matabang. Kay, at least, atong mga kapolisan ma-alarm man dayon, unless nga kato nga time niari pa diri, so dugay ang pag-response. Whereas kung naay alarm at least diretso na nato, automatic na siya,” he said.

As a result of the incident, police visibility is further intensified and the police area also pasting hotline numbers in the different areas so that the public can call in cases of emergency.

Asked on the mayor’s ultimatum, Libres declined to comment except to assure that they are doing everything to solve the incident.

“Kami sa pulis, trabaho man ta na. Nahitabo na man, paningkamotan nato taman sa atong mahimo nga ma-solve gyud katong krimen,” he said.

Garcia reminded that the city government is serious in its concern for peace and order, which explains why it recently turned over firearms and patrol cars to the CCPO, as well as not missing providing the monthly allowance for each of its police personnel.

“We've been supportive to the police. So, mao na nga para nako ba, we've done so many things to the police it’s up to the police to perform,” he said. (CEBU NEWS)