Remittance outlet head loses P800T to robbers

CEBU, Philippines -  Riding-in-tandem armed men struck anew and robbed the P800,000 cash from the bag of a manager of a money remittance center yesterday morning at Lemery town of Iloilo.

Senior Inspector Herman Celiz, Lemery police chief, said Liezel Jativa, 35, manager of the Palawan Pawnshop-Lemery branch, was riding on a motorcycle driven by her brother-in-law when the two men chased and blocked the victims.

The backrider of the riding-in-tanden immediately poked a gun at the victims and declared hold-up. Initially, Jativa held on to her bag where the money was placed, but eventually yielded after her brother-in-law told her to let it go because the robbers were about to shoot them.

Jativa came fom a branch in the nearby Sara town to get the money she needed to replenish the funds at the Lemery branch. “It was not routine because she just withdrew additional funds once she deemed that they might run out of cash,” Celiz said.

It was gathered that the victims reported the incident after more than 30 minutes given the distance from Velasco village and the town proper.

When the police conducted a hot pursuit operation, residents in several barangays claimed to have seen the motorcycle of the robbers heading toward Maayon town in Capiz province.

Two days ago, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) said it was conducting a tight watch on newly freed convicted felons who were reportedly planning to stage a series of robbery in the province.

Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, IPPO director, bared this fiindings following three robbery incidents in the province.

"If necessary, the IPPO will organize a focus group to solve the robbery incidents," he said.

He also encouraged intelligence and investigation officers to have  dedication and commitment to solve criminalities. “If they have better investigation skills and plans, even criminals would have second thoughts in doing their nefarious activities,” he said.

For Salinas, the best defense against criminalities are very competent police officers who could prevent and solve crimes.  (FREEMAN)