P’que cops given a week to solve Union Bank heist

The armed men who robbed Friday the Union Bank branch in Parañaque City of an undetermined amount of money were the same robbers who stormed the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank) branch in Quezon City last Sept. 22, the police theorized yesterday.

"The description given by witnesses in last Friday’s robbery fits that of those who robbed the Metrobank branch in Quezon City last month," said Director Edgar Aglipay, Metro Manila police chief.

Aglipay threatened to relieve Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla, Parañaque City police chief, should he fail to solve the robbery after a period of one week.

"I’m giving him (Rongavilla) one week to solve the case otherwise he will be relieved from his post," Aglipay said.

Reports said three of the robbers, casually walked into the Union Bank located along Santos Avenue, (formerly Sucat) and disarmed the lone security guard. They then announced the holdup.

Their five heavily-armed companions, mostly wearing bonnets, followed behind, accosted the bank’s teller and ordered her to hand over all the cash she had.

The robbery, the second to hit Metro Manila this year, was over in less than three minutes, witnesses said. The suspect’s getaway vehicle, a white Tamaraw FX (plate number UCP 214) was recovered abandoned along Tramo Street in Barangay San Dionisio.

According to Aglipay, the same modus operandi was employed by the robbers in the two bank robberies. He, however, declined to name the group behind the bank heists.

"We don’t know yet what robbery group was responsible for the two robberies. But we expect to make arrests in due time," Aglipay said.