CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – Beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program in San Francisco town in Quezon are left empty-handed for now.
This, as a bag containing about P9.4 million intended for them under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was carted away by armed robbers from PhlPOST personnel who were transporting it in Pagbilao, Quezon last Tuesday.
Police are eyeing a possible “inside job†in the heist. “The question is, why are they carrying such a large amount of money when the Landbank Mulanay is the nearest Landbank branch to San Francisco, Quezon?†said Senior Superintendent Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Quezon police director.
According to Chief Superintendent Jesus Gatchalian, Region 4 police director, said three armed men accosted five PhilPOST employees who were transporting the money onboard a Starex van along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao town at noon last Tuesday.
Gatchalian said the five employees of the PhlPOST regional office in San Pablo City had just taken their lunch at an eatery when one of the robbers pointed a gun at the driver, Brian Magbutay Dizon, and demanded the vehicle’s key.
Reports said Dizon refused to give the key, prompting the robber to shoot him twice in the left foot.
The robbers then commandeered the van but they got stuck in heavy traffic. This prompted them to just leave the vehicle, take the bag and escape onboard a motorcycle toward the Pagbilao town proper, a police investigator said. Dizon, 34, was rushed to the Jane County Hospital.
Police recovered four 9-mm shells and two live bullets for 9-mm and .38 caliber at the crime scene. These were turned over to the provincial police crime laboratory for firearms identification test and cross-matching. – With Michelle Zoleta, Ed Amoroso