Firm offers P200,000 for info on robbers

The management of a private remittance firm offered a P200,000 reward yesterday for any information leading to the arrest of five armed men who robbed a company vehicle in San Juan of P8 million cash intended for families of some 1,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

As this developed, Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco ordered the San Juan police to get the suspects "at the soonest possible time."

Alexander Duran, 30, manager of the Philippine Remittance Co. based in Mandaluyong City, said they decided to put up the reward money to get the public involved in the hunt for the suspects and the recovery of the cash.

"The money was for the families of OFWs. This is why we are willing to shell out a huge sum for any information leading to the speedy arrest of the suspects," said Duran, who added that the stolen money was not insured.

He said management has already prepared the reward money for the immediate turnover to an informer once the suspects are in police custody. The number to call is 09166235899.

Meanwhile, San Juan police chief Superintendent Rodrigo de Gracia reported to Velasco that they have identified one of the suspects through mug shots.

De Gracia refused to identify the suspect but claimed he was involved in the rash of robberies in Metro Manila.

Velasco did not give any deadline for De Gracia to solve the case, saying a meticulous investigation should be conducted to capture all the members of the group behind the robbery.

Duran and his driver, Ricardo Ipe, were on their way to the office after withdrawing P8 million from the Equitable-PCIBank branch at the Greenhills Shopping Center when a van blocked their path on Connecticut Street.

The suspects were armed with Armalite rifles and wearing black sweat shirts with police markings on the back. The heist was over in two minutes.

Management of the firm said the money was intended as the monthly remittance of OFWs in America, Europe and Middle East. Despite the robbery, Duran assured their clients and their families that they would get their money as scheduled.