• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Thieves struck again at a shopping mall in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, carting away about P1.5 million in cash and goods, using a tunnel they had been digging as entry and exit points, the police said.
The breach in the security of Gaisano Capital in Barangay Palampas was discovered on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Robbers were believed to have entered shortly before midnight of Aug. 19.
Investigators discovered the tunnel inside a drug store.
The thieves looted several stores, including Negros Grace Pharmacy, Handyman, Galleon Enterprises Telecom, Belceña Jewelry, and Yung Luck Star Jewelry of cash, jewelry, mobile phones and other valuables.
PCol. Rainerio de Chavez, police provincial director of Negros Occidental, said that the two suspects wearing bonnets were captured by the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage, which is now being reviewed by investigators of the San Carlos City Police Station.
Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., city disaster risk reduction and management office, said that Mayor Renato Gustilo has offered a P100,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
In March this year, nine commercial establishments inside the Gaisano Capital were also ransacked, with the burglars carting away P450,600 in cash and valuables.
The suspects gained entry through an airconditioning vent.
With the recent incident, De Chavez ordered all police station chiefs to boost their intelligence monitoring and adjust their deployment plans to curb similar incidents.
He also advised them to coordinate closely with all business establishments to come up with preventive strategies.
“Rest assured, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office will not ease up on the conduct of investigation until we put the culprits behind bars,” De Chavez said. | GB
