Robbers from Mindanao behind bingo club heist?

CEBU, Philippines - A Mindanao-based robbery group is possibly behind the robbery of a bingo club in Mandaue City on Monday, in which almost P2 million was taken, said an official of the Regional Intelligence Division-7.

RID-7 deputy chief, Superintendent Rex Derilo, said there is a big possibility that the group who robbed the 8-eBingo Club at City Times Square Mall in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City is one of those from Mindanao, which also hit business establishments in Cebu in the past.

He said the information they received a few months ago about a bigtime robbery group has not changed.

“That’s why we keep on reminding the lower units to continue monitoring this group, kung naa man g’yud, and continue their case buildup as to the robbery incident that took place in the past,” said Derilo.

Derilo said they cannot say that these groups come from one particular place in Mindanao as bigtime robbery groups split into separate groups after pulling off a major heist.

“Ini’g human sa pagpangawat, mang-undang na man ilang amo kay naa na man kwarta. Mao ni sila nga magsabot na lang nga mag-grupo og ilaha,” said Derilo.

In the Mandaue City robbery, investigators are not discounting the possibility of an inside job considering that the manner of execution appeared to be well-planned and the robbers knew where the money was kept.

Derilo said if Mindanao-based robbery groups plan to come to Cebu to pull off a heist, they always have a local contact so they can easily execute the robbery.

“Mao man na sa investigations namo sa una pa. Pirmente g’yud na nga naa’y local contact,” he said.

Derilo said they will coordinate with Mandaue City Police Office on the investigation into the bingo club incident.

“If we can get significant information about the incident, we will give it to them,” said Derilo, adding that they will still follow the lead of MCPO.

Derilo stressed robbery groups strike anytime, not just during celebrations or on big occasions.

“Depende na og kanus-a nila kailangan ang kwarta. We can even say nga this coming Lenten season, nga i-intensify nato ang ato monitoring, di na sila mo-strike. Mo-strike na sila kung kanus-a ang policemen will lessen monitoring,” he said.

He reminded the public to be vigilant, asking them to help the police by tipping them off.

“By just giving information through text, unsa’y sakyanan, plate number, maybe that can lead us to proper investigation,” he added. —(FREEMAN)