Iloilo, Bohol robbery suspects may be same person

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office is investigating the possibility that one of the suspects who broke into a pawnshop and jewelry store in a mall in Pavia, Iloilo, is the same person involved in a grocery store robbery in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The Pavia robbery was discovered on Dec. 17, while the Ant Mart burglary in Bohol occurred on Dec. 4.

“Magkamukha sila pero wala pang confirmation,” said Colonel Bayani Razalan, Iloilo police chief.

Police said there is a resemblance between the suspect seen in CCTV footage from the Pavia robbery and a photo of the Ant Mart burglar, who has been charged in court.

“Magkapareho halos ang kanilang mata at ilong. But we have to gather more evidence to confirm,” Razalan said.

Authorities are working to determine the Bohol suspect’s whereabouts and whether he traveled to Iloilo or nearby provinces after posting bail.

Razalan added that Iloilo police are coordinating closely with their counterparts in Bohol regarding the case.

Additionally, investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from a nearby 7-Eleven store after suspects left a bag at the convenience store’s entrance.

“Nag-iiba-iba ng weekly ang binibentang bag ng 7-Eleven. Apparently, the said bag was only sold during the first week of December,” Razalan said.

However, police have yet to secure footage clearly showing any of the suspects without a mask.

A reward of PHP 50,000 has been offered for information leading to the identification of any of the suspects involved in the break-in at the GT Town Center in Pavia.

CCTV footage showed at least three individuals entering the store around 3:10 a.m. on Dec. 17.

Only one person was clearly captured on camera, wearing a bonnet that partially revealed his eyes and nose.

The silhouettes of two other men were visible as they passed behind a glass wall.

The footage also recorded a brief exchange among the suspects.

One voice, speaking in Hiligaynon, was reportedly heard saying, “Dali lang anay, may gwardya,” which Razalan said translates roughly to “Wait a moment, there’s a guard.”

With the CCTV footage and reward incentive, police hope to identify and charge the suspects soon.

Authorities estimate that about PHP 30 million worth of jewelry was stolen from the shop.

In addition, the company lost PHP 280,000 in cash that was stored inside a vault with the jewelry.

Police said a nearby money changer also lost PHP 588,000 in cash and an undetermined amount of foreign currency that had been kept in an unlocked vault.

Razalan said investigators believe six to seven individuals were involved in the heist.

While only three entered the establishment, others are believed to have served as lookouts or the getaway driver.