Police probe at least six suspects in Iloilo jewelry heist

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office said at least six suspects are being investigated in connection with the pawnshop and jewelry store robbery at a mall in Pavia, Iloilo, on Dec. 17.

Iloilo police chief Col. Bayani Razalan said one of the suspects is believed to be a woman, based on information from a reliable informant.

“We have spoken to a reliable informant who allegedly saw the suspects inside the vehicle. While he did not see the suspects clearly, he heard the voice of a woman. Pero hindi siya kasama during the actual robbery,” Razalan said.

Razalan said tools believed to have been used to excavate a hole to access the establishment were found inside the vehicle seen by the informant.

He said the sighting of the tools coincided with the period when suspects may have been digging their way into the establishment at GT Town Center.

For now, Razalan said police cannot yet determine whether any of the six suspects are from Iloilo.

Investigators earlier received information pointing to a resemblance between a man previously accused of theft and physical injuries and the individual captured on CCTV footage during the robbery.

“The two have an uncanny resemblance. We tried putting a bonnet and mask on the picture, parang hawig talaga,” Razalan said.

Police later conducted surveillance on the individual, but investigators determined the image shown to the informant may have been an older photo.

“Tumaba na siya. We don’t think he would fit inside that hole,” Razalan said.

Razalan said investigators are waiting for additional witnesses to substantiate the evidence gathered so far.

Police are also reviewing more CCTV footage, particularly videos that may show the suspects near the store before the incident.

As of now, Razalan said investigators are only about 40% into the probe.

“The testimonies and evidence we have gathered could not still stand in court,” he said.

A case conference is scheduled Friday, during which investigators are expected to present newly obtained evidence.

Police earlier announced a reward of PHP 50,000 for information that could identify at least one suspect involved in the robbery at the pawnshop and jewelry store in GT Town Center.

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

However, only one suspect was clearly captured on camera.

The individual was wearing a bonnet, though his eyes and nose were visible.

The silhouettes of two other men were seen passing behind a glass wall.

Audio from the footage also recorded a conversation among the suspects.

The recording allegedly captured one man saying, “Dali lang anay, may gwardya,” which Razalan said appeared to be spoken in Hiligaynon.

Razalan said the reward and CCTV footage could help police identify the suspects and file charges soon.

Police estimated that jewelry worth about PHP 30 million was taken from the store.

The company also lost about PHP 280,000 in cash that was kept inside the vault with the jewelry.

In addition, a nearby money changer reportedly lost PHP 588,000 in cash and an undetermined amount of foreign currency stored in an unlocked vault.