Tellers tag Mindanao “robber”: Western Union heist suspect

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office has identified one of two men who robbed a money remittance outlet at noon Thursday in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Guadalupe.

CCPO Director Noli Romana said both the two tellers of Western Union-Guadalupe pointed to the person, who is from Mindanao, as one of the robbers.

The police were able to identify the person after his image was captured by the establishment’s closed circuit television camera.

Romana said that when they showed pictures of the person, the two tellers both agreed he was one of the two men.  The police are not on the hunt for the second person, who wore a ball cap during the robbery.

“Mayron na tayong suspect and we are conducting a manhunt operation doon sa naka-kalo.  From the eyes, nose, sa mouth, talagang positive identification talaga sa unang pumasok at nagpakita ng baril at nag-declare ng hold-up,” Romana said.

He said the man was from Mindanao, where he was also involved in robbery incidents and is even facing two charges for robbery.

Romana said that with the recent robbery incident, they are gain reviewing their security protocols, especially on the details of their “Oplan Universe,” or the police procedure that automatically comes into effect if there is an emergency situation.

He also said that during the Western Union robbery, the repeater of their radio communications bugged down.

He said CCPO’s priority now is to strengthen security measures implemented in the city, as he also warned travel agencies to be more cautious because they might be the next most probable targets.

Meanwhile, at the Cebu City Hall, Mayor Michael Rama ordered  Romana to do more to prevent another robbery.

“I am not happy. Take your job seriously, work harder and double time. I want you to run after the culprits the soonest,” Rama said.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Police Coordinating and Advisory Council chairman, on the other hand, said the outlet also committed security lapses that helped the culprits to successfully rob it.

He said that aside from the lack of guards, the robbers were allowed to enter the outlet even when one was still wearing a hat while the other still had his motorcycle helmet on.

“The (Western Union) personnel… should not have allowed the (men) to enter, seeing that they did not remove their head gears,” he said. — Bryner L. Diaz/RHM (FREEMAN)