By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Over P1.3 million in cash was stolen from Ilog Rural Bank in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Thursday, November 11.

Police Major Clifford Batadhay, Hinoba-an town police chief, said an employee and one trainee of the bank went to their station on Thursday morning reporting that they have discovered that the roll-up door of the bank and the vault were already opened.

Authorities immediately conducted an investigation and Batadhay said they believe the robbers were able to evade the bank’s security alarms and close circuit television cameras by opening one of the bank’s windows and unplugging the electronic security systems.

Batadhay further stated that they have found something odd with the robbery as the doors and the vault were not forcefully opened.

They believe the robbery was a possible inside job as the suspects managed to get the keys and they know the number combination of the vault and the safety box.

The logbook, where the number combinations and the amount of money inside the vault were written, was also missing.

Police investigators also noted the suspects have knowledge as to where the keys were hidden as the bank’s office was orderly.

Batadhay said the robbery took place sometime between the late evening hours of November 10 and the early morning hours of November 11.

He further added the bank was already advised previously to conduct a weekly security assessment as they do not have any security guards on duty, even during night time.

At present, six of the bank’s staff are currently being eyed as “persons of interest” in the bank robbery.

Following the incident, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) spokesperson Police Lt. Abegail Donasco commented that the robbery went flawlessly.

The police in the province are also suspecting that the heist could be related to the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections, Donasco added./DGB, WDJ

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