LBC branch robbed for the second time

CEBU, Philippines - For the second time in 11 months, the branch of courier company LBC in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City was robbed yesterday.

The three suspects reportedly entered the branch at F. Llamas Street at midday and took away P5,000 cash.

Senior Superintendent Noli Romana, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said the robbery was so swift – in a matter of five minutes – that workers in nearby establishments did not even notice it happened. 

Romana said one of the three suspects served as a lookout while another waited at a getaway vehicle. The third pretended to be a customer and asked how much he would pay if he would send money to Cagayan before pulling out a .45 cal. pistol and pointing it at the cashier. 

“Very quick lang may pera pa sa loob na hindi nila nakuha…kasi walang katao-tao sa loob. Ang isa tumayo dito sa pintuan ang isa doon sa loob,” Romana said.

No security

Romana noted that the three closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) were not functioning when the incident happened.

“According to their IT, napansin niya ang switch box naka-off, yung wire kinagat na ng daga. I asked him when was the last time he checked the CCTV, last year pa daw,” Romana said.

He urged the establishment to fix the cameras and/or install an alarm system.

Romana also noted that just like other branches, the LBC Branch in Punta Princesa Branch does not have a security guard. He said the robbery might have been foiled if there was security in the establishment.

“Hindi naman kapansin-pansin ang mga nangyayari sa loob unless may security guard o mga police natin na tatayo sa harap ng LBC,” Romana said.

He said he personally supervised the enforcement of “Oplan Universe” right after the incident.

 “Na-implement natin kaagad yung Oplan Universe. Marami tayong naka-hold na nag-motorcycle na same description sa suspect,” Romana said.

 Senior Police Officer 4 Jaime Toring and his team brought in two men after a brief chase. The two allegedly evaded a checkpoint. However, LBC personnel told them that the two were not among the three suspects.

People in the area said robbers struck after policemen who were on field training were pulled out of the area.

“Mukhang na-counter-intelligence yung mga police natin dito,” Romana said.

Romana said he is set to meet with the managers of business involved in money transfer to discuss and reach a consensus on how best to improve the security at their respective branches. He said LBC is one of those who he called owing to the several incidents wherein the company fell prey like their branch in Escario Street last month and the one in Taboan last March.  

Romana appealed  that the city strictly implements the ordinance requiring financial establishments to put up CCTV cameras and hire security personnel but he noted that LBC might have a different approach to security.

“In my personal opinion, iba yung kanilang management opinion with regards to security,” Romana said.

The LBC branch in Punta Princesa was the seventh branch victimized by robbers this year.—/JMO (FREEMAN)