In just 2 minutes

Eight heavily armed bank robbers, including a woman, barged into the Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCom) branch in Mandaluyong City yesterday, carting away P200,000 in a two-minute job.

The robbers struck while Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco and other top police officials were about to present to the media two of the 12 suspects in last week’s Prudential Bank heist in Parañaque City.

Velasco immediately ordered Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento, director of the Eastern Police district to identify and arrest the PBCom robbers at the soonest possible time.

"He should solve the case just like the Parañaque police," Velasco told The STAR.

Initial reports showed that three of the robbers followed security guard Virgilio Donato as he entered the PBCom branch located on the ground floor of the RFM Corporate Center at the corner of Pioneer and Sheridnan streets in Barangay Highway Hills at about 9:55 a.m.

Once inside, the suspects, who were wearing bonnets, quickly disarmed Donato and another guard of their firearms. The remaining suspects, who had been waiting outside the bank, then rushed inside.

Superintendent Antonio Aguilar, acting Mandaluyong City police chief, said the suspects ordered the bank’s tellers to put the cash inside a duffel bag. After two minutes, the robbers sped away on board a Toyota Lite-Ace van with license plate WTL-185.

Police later recovered the van at the corner of San Rafael and San Clemente streets in Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. A tricycle driver said the van was abandoned at around 10:30 a.m. He did not say whether the suspects boarded another car or just walked away.

Initial reports reaching Velasco said the bank’s security camera was able to capture the faces of the suspects.

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos Jr. ordered a relentless pursuit of the suspects.

"If we put all our efforts into this, we will get them all," Abalos said.