Police identify suspect in Western Union heist

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police already identified one of the two suspects in the robbery of a Western Union money transfer branch in Calinog, Iloilo on Saturday.

But Captain Dadje Delima, Calinog police chief, declined to name the suspect.

Delima said they could possibly file a robbery case against the identified suspect and his unidentified cohort by the end of the week.

What led policemen to identify the suspect?

Delima said that a male market-goer saw the robber and his accomplice leave the crime scene onboard a motorcycle.

As the suspect was about to wear his crash helmet, his face mask fell off.

“That’s when our witness saw a glimpse of his face,” Delima said.

Police later learned about the witness’ account and was able to talk to him on Sunday.

Delima said they brought with them pictures of alleged robbers in Iloilo province.

From the police rogue’s gallery, the witness was able to identify the person he saw leaving the Western Union branch after the robbery happened,

“He has some apprehensions of becoming a witness, but I believe we have presented proposals for him to help us in prosecuting the suspects,” Delima said.

The witness, a resident of a far-flung village in Calinog town, allegedly asked authorities to let him finish harvesting his crops and he would be able to give his official testimony by Thursday or Friday.

The identified suspect had been implicated in a drug-related case. He was also involved in robbery and theft incidents in the third district of Iloilo.

Delima said they are also looking at the possibility that the suspect could be a member of the Lego-Lebuna Robbery Group operating in the third district of Iloilo.

Some P1.560 million in cash was taken from the Western Union money transfer service branch on Rizal Street in Barangay Poblacion Centro, Calinog.

The lone on-duty personnel, Gladys Almirante, said she entered the store and was halfway to opening the roll up door when a man suddenly appeared from behind and pushed her inside the branch before declaring the heist.

Almirante, 38, a resident of Barangay Mangil, Janiuay, Iloilo, said the man poked a handgun and threatened her.

They immediately went to the vault and emptied it with the money inside.

The man then placed packing tape on her mouth and bound her hands with the same tape.

The suspect then moved her to the comfort room and was made to sniff a substance which caused her to lose consciousness for more than two hours.

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 were not able to immediately ask for relevant information from Almirante because “she appeared to be in shock over what happened.”

But she claimed she could identify the suspect through his eyes, built, and complexion.

The closed circuit television (CCTV) at the vault failed to record the incident because of a scheduled power interruption.