Police hunting financier of botched pawnshop heist

CEBU, Philippines - Police are on a hunt for the alleged “local financier” of those arrested in a botched heist on a pawnshop in Barangay Lahug last Sunday.

Insp. Rolando Pinili, chief of the Cebu City Police Office Theft and Robbery Section, said they are currently searching for a certain “Bebie Turing” whom they believe to have financed Madrid Madrid Batnag alias “Johnny Lo” and Kenneth Dayudoy Coplanga to burrow their way toward inside Gemmary Pawnshop.

Both perpetuators are natives of Benguet, Mountain Province and are believed to be former miners who have lost their jobs. They were tunneling their way to the pawnshop when arrested by authorities.

Pinili said Turing was last sighted in a town in southern Cebu.

The perpetuators could have not carried out their plans without back-up of a financier, Pinili said.

Cebu City Police Director Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said the evidences they have recovered, which include tools and various excavation equipment, roughly costs around P60,000. This does not include the payment the perpetuators made for the house that they leased for P30,000.

Pinili said three separate charges of attempted robbery, breach of contract and malicious mischief will be filed against the suspects anytime today.

Buenafe also said they are currently coordinating with their counterparts in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental to gather more information about the assailants.

Batnag and Coplanga have also been tagged as the ones responsible for a successful heist in Dumaguete City May last year during which they carted away jewelry of undetermined amount.

They allegedly entered the pawnshop using the same tunneling technique. The pawnshop is owned by Tyzanna Mathay Teves.

Buenafe also urged the public to help them in their efforts.

In a press statement, Atty. Michelle Mendez-Palmares, President of the Philippine Society for Industrial Security (PSIS) -7, said the group recognizes the security measures taken by Gemmary Pawnshop in holding back the thieves last Sunday.   

She added that the quick response of the local police showed how important it is to invest in security systems.

Further, PSIS urged security managers to regularly check their alarm systems to make sure they are working properly. – (FREEMAN)