Robbers continue to target bank clients; no arrests yet

Despite the series of the robberies involving people who had just withdrawn large amounts of money from a bank, police have apparently failed to address the problem.

At least three high-profile cases have been reported, including that of Chief Inspector Isagani Ilas, Gadiwa Paz and his wife in Pasig City last week and businesswoman Carmen Talosig in Parañaque City last  March 5.

Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias previously said there were no longer bank robberies because criminals have turned to robbing individuals who had just withdrawn money from banks.

“What are the police doing? They know of the criminals’ new modus operandi but they don’t seem to be doing anything. Barias is just trying to protect his image,” an observer said.

Ilas, chief investigator of the Sta. Cruz police station, had just withdrawn money from the Metrobank Fogoso branch in Sta. Cruz last Tuesday when he and his driver were held up by three armed men.

Last week, the Pazes lost P500,000 they had just withdrawn from a bank to armed men in Pasig City.

Last March 5, three armed men held up Talosig minutes after she withdrew $9,000 and P30,000 from a Metrobank branch in Kabihasnan, Barangay San Dionisio. Two of the three suspects have already been identified as Bobby Baliber, and Alah Jalayjalay.

Police failed to make any arrests on the incidents.

When contacted by The STAR, Barias maintained that they are doing their best to stop criminals from victimizing bank clients.

“I had developed a new strategy that will make use of a combination of preventive and pre-emptive measures to address the problem,” said Barias in a text message to The STAR.

Barias said preventive and pre-emptive measures include foot and mobile patrols and checkpoints; motorcycle and Special Weapons and Tactics patrols actively scouting for people riding in tandem on motorcycles, who will be flagged down and frisked; and intelligence or special units conducting operations to identify, locate and arrest robbery groups.

“I have directed the five district directors to uniformly carry out this new strategy,” he added. “They will be held accountable for unabated robberies under the doctrine of command responsibility.”    – Cecille Suerte Felipe