P4.2-M bank loot recovered

SORSOGON CITY — Police dug up the other day P4.2 million of the P5 million taken by four armed men from an East-West Bank branch in Calamba, Laguna and buried in a backyard here by a brother of the principal suspect.

Senior Superintendent Joel Regondola, Sorsogon police director, said Reynante Pura, brother of the principal suspect, Marvin Pura, admitted that he buried two bags containing the money in his backyard in Barangay Cabid-An, a kilometer away from this city’s commercial district.

The money comprised the bulk of the loot taken on Monday from East-West Bank’s Calamba branch where the main suspect had worked as a security guard.

Regondola said the Laguna police had sought their assistance in tracking down Marvin who was believed to be moving constantly from one safehouse to another in Sorsogon.

In the process, the Sorsogon police was able to locate Reynante, who readily confessed to having buried the money, on his brother’s instruction.

He said Marvin gave him P5,000 for his effort and also shared part of the loot with other relatives.

Regondola said they would have to find out if Reynante would be included as a suspect or an accomplice in the case.