CPD releases sketch of bank robbers

The Central Police District (CPD) has come up with an artist’s sketch of six of the more than 10 suspects involved in the Bank of Commerce robbery last Wednesday along West Avenue in Quezon City.

The description of the six suspects, one of them a woman, was provided by witnesses who were inside the bank during the heist as well as persons who encountered the suspects minutes before the robbery.

Police sources earlier said the bank’s security camera, which could have captured the faces of the suspects, was not activated at the time of the heist.

Chief Inspector Rodolfo Jaraza, head of the District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU), said the six suspects had a snack at a nearby burger stand before posing as clients and entered the bank.

Jaraza said the woman stayed outside and served as lookout for the group. There were reports that one suspect even controlled the traffic flow in front of the bank to enable the speedy escape aboard their getaway vehicles.

"We already know this group and we are continuously conducting operations to track them down and hopefully, arrest them," Jaraza said.

On May 19, at least 10 heavily armed men robbed the Bank of Commerce branch located at the corner of West Avenue and Zamboanga street in Barangay Nayong Kaunlaran, leaving a bank teller injured and carting away P1 million in cash.

The suspects sped off aboard a white L-300 van and a red Nissan Sentra, which were later abandoned and consequently recovered by authorities along nearby Gen. Lim street.

Jaraza said the suspects transferred to a blue Hyundai Grace van and another car.

Jaraza believes the group involved in this heist could be the same one that hit a Banco De Oro branch at the SM City North EDSA last April 5.