Robbers take P250,000 from Mandaue firm

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City's generally peaceful observance of All Saints Day was marred by a robbery yesterday morning.

Two men wearing ball caps and black jackets made off with P250,000 from iSource Inc., a furniture design firm around 10:35 a.m. yesterday along Plaridel St. in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.

Based on the investigation conducted by the joint team of the Opao Police Station and the Investigative and Detective Management Bureau both men were able to enter the property after marketing officer Gia Oblina opened the gate after she heard a buzzer.

There was no guard on duty as his shift had yet to start at 1 p.m.

Oblina told police that after she opened the gate the men forced their way inside and one of them pointed a .38 cal. revolver at her and ordered her to go directly to their office.

When they got there she said the man who pointed the gun at her ordered her to open the firm's vault and hand over the cash which was inside an envelope. 

The two men then hogtied her before they fled.

Armilito Deguimo, the firm's errand boy, said that he did not notice the robbery because before the incident happened she was instructed by Oblina to take the dog of the firm's owner for a stroll in the backyard.

He only came back to the office to see Oblina hogtied and gagged with masking tape.

Deguimo then untied Oblina and they called for police assistance. A roadblock was immediately established yesterday but police failed to arrest the men.

Investigators of the Scene of the Crime Operations found $4,750 left behind in the vault.

Mandaue City Police Office chief Sr. Supt. Noel Gillamac yesterday said that they have placed both Oblina and security guard Jonathan Marmoga of the Golden Sun Security Agency under questioning.

Gillamac said they noticed some inconsistencies in the statements of Oblina and also learned Marmoga covered the gate's peephole with tape preventing those within from seeing who was outside.

Marmoga explained he covered the hole because he also does not the people from outside to know what was happening inside the firm.

Gillamac also said that it was also unlikely for Oblina, to just open the door without verifying who was outside as it was a holiday and there was no work inside the firm.

The police was also puzzled why Oblina was also in their office yesterday when it was a holiday.

The firm's operation is only from Monday to Saturday and its operation start from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Police also discovered that it was only Oblina and the firm's accountant Remy Oblido who knew the vault's combination numbers and the police were able to confirm that Oblido was in Aloguinsan town when she was called by the police yesterday.

"Katingalahan sad nga siya (referring to Oblina) maoy mihatag sa kwarta sa mga kawatan ug ikaw kawatan ikaw unta'y mangita sa kwarta sud sa vault, unya nganong nabinlan pa man," Gillamac said.

Gillamac said that although they cannot yet conclude that the robbery was an inside job as all angles will still be looked into.

Richard Stoltman, the firm's owner is also set to arrive today from the United States.  -/BRP (FREEMAN)