Police points to old robbery groups in bakeshop heist
Notorious robbery groups are seen to be behind the hold-up incident at a bread store in the morning of Good Friday.
PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said that the suspects are operating in the city and province of Iloilo.
“Members of these robbery groups merged for the said operation. They go on separate ways if they have no prospect and integrate once they have a job to do,” he said.
Accordingly, Cuevas added, one of the suspects befriended an employee of the Sari-Sari Bread Store which holds office at J and V Building, Ledesco Village, Barangay Tabuc Suba, La Paz, Iloilo City.
“Whatever information he got was passed upon to the group of suspects,” he added.
For now, Cuevas refused to identify the groups pending the filing of charges against them.
“All I can say is that they were involved in previous robbery groups in Iloilo province. They operate in La Paz district and in the towns of San Enrique and Central Iloilo in the province,” he added.
Last two weeks, Cuevas said that they were also seen in Guimaras province.
However, it was not confirmed what was their plan.
“We are monitoring the group and verify if they have standing arrest warrant,” Cuevas said.
It can be recalled that three hold-up men carted some P400,000 from Sari-Sari Bread Store at around 9:30 in the morning.
When the incident happened, there were 10 employees and 2 cashiers.
Reports said that the suspects managed to gain entrance after one of the cashiers went out of the office.
After the door was unlocked, the suspects immediately sneaked and, at gunpoint, held up Mary Grace Barcelona, 41, of Villa Lorenzo, Brgy. Loboc, Lapaz district.
Barcelona, the store’s executive assistance, just received the store’s weekly remittance.
After the incident, witnesses told police investigators that the three suspects fled on a board a taxi marked GDR and a red motorcycle.
They reportedly sped off going to the coastal area of La Paz.
