P1.5 million taken in remittance firm heist

By Jennifer P. Rendon

It only took some two minutes for a lone robber to sweep clean a money remittance center with around P1.5 million cash during a broad daylight robbery at Calinog, Iloilo July 10, 2021.

The incident allegedly happened as the branch of Western Union money transfer service at Rizal Street in Barangay Poblacion Centro, Calinog was about to start business at around 8 am.

The lone on-duty personnel, Gladys Almirante, said she entered the store and was halfway opening the roll up door when a man suddenly came from behind.

She was pushed inside the store, as the man declared hold-up.

Almirante, 38, a resident of Barangay Mangil, Janiuay, Iloilo, said the man poked a handgun and threatened her. They immediately went to the vault.

Almirante told investigators that she did not offer resistance out of fear and immediately opened the vault.

The man then taped her mouth and bound her hands with packing tape. She was moved to the establishment’s comfort room and was made to sniff a substance causing her to lose consciousness.

Captain Dadje Delima, Calinog police chief, said Almirante regained her consciousness after more than two hours.

She tried to make noise to attract the attention of clients who were waiting for the center to open.

While the comfort room was not locked and her legs were free, Almirante claimed it took her a while to gather enough strength to stand up and ask for help.

Delima said they were informed of the robbery at 10:30 a.m.

Investigation showed that the man who entered the establishment escaped together with another person who served as his look out.

At that time that the robbery was in progress, the lookout was reportedly on his motorcycle parked just outside the remittance center.

Delima said they weren’t able to ask for other relevant information from Almirante because “she appeared to be in shock over what happened.”

She claimed she could identify the man through his eyes, built, and complexion.

Their closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the vault failed to record the incident because of a power interruption in the area.

Days before the heist, Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO) has announced that a power interruption would occur in Calinog from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the same day.

During weekdays, Almirante and another staff are on duty as tellers, but on weekends, only one worker is on duty.

The Western Union branch, which is in front of the public market, has no security guard.

Delima said they already have identities of the possible suspects.

“They are also members of a robbery group operating in Iloilo province,” he said.

The Calinog PNP also asked the help of Iloilo Police Provincial Office-Provincial Intelligence Unit (IPPO-PIU) and the Regional Intelligence Division in tracking down the robbers.

In 2010, an employee of the Western Union Money Transfer also lost almost P400,000 cash in a robbery incident at Brgy. Quingaringan Pequiño, Passi City, Iloilo.

Ailyn Lenteja, 48, of Brgy, Madong, Janiuay, Iloilo, and a teller of Western Union Money Transfer-Calinog, Iloilo branch, was on board a passenger jeepney bound for Calinog when the robbery took place.

From Passi City, information indicated that three persons on board a red motorcycle had been tailing the jeepney.

When they reached Brgy. Quingaringan Pequiño, the motorcycle overtook and barred the jeepney’s path.

The armed suspects forcibly took Lenteja’s bag containing the money transfer cash amounting to P395,000 and her personal money totaling P2,275.