P200,000 for each money changer robber caught

A congressman from Mindanao offered yesterday a reward of P200,000 for every captured suspect involved in the heist of several money changer shops in Manila.

At the same time, Rep. Suharto Mangudadatu of the lone district of Sultan Kudarat also donated P100,000 to the Manila Police District (MPD) for its intelligence gathering against the robbery suspects.

Mangudadatu led a group of money changer shop owners in a dialogue with MPD officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa to discuss ways and means to neutralize crime gangs preying on hapless owners.

"The reward money and the donation are my small contribution to my fellow businessmen-brothers to allow them to continue doing business without fear of criminals," Mangudadatu told The STAR. He also furnished Abarzosa a list of suspected robbers.

Owners of the more than 100 money changer shops said robberies have resulted in the loss of several millions of pesos in their capital, according to Taib Abduhraman, president of the group.

Last week, two armed suspects, riding tandem on a motorcycle, robbed the Sheenha Money Changer in Ermita, Manila at around 4 p.m.

Armed with caliber .45 pistols, the suspects managed to get away with some P1.5 million. Witnesses said the suspects knew the routine of the money courier, who had just withdrawn a large sum of money from a bank.

Theft and Robbery Section chief Superintendent Rodolfo Llorca said that judging from the ease the robbery was perpetrated, the syndicate could have some tipsters from inside.

Llorca said his unit are now conducting a special operation to arrest the suspects. He did not elaborate.

Abarzosa requested money changer shop owners to coordinate with the police for escorts when withdrawing large sums of money. "The service will be free of charge," Abarzosa told the group.

Apart from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team that would be deployed to the Ermita and Malate areas, where most money changer shops are located, motorcycle cops and rapid deployment teams will be conducting patrols.

The group, which expressed confidence in the new MPD chief, vowed to cooperate with the Manila police in the neutralization of the rob gangs.