Police rules out ‘inside job’ in Supermart heist

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has dismissed the possibility of an “inside job” in its investigation of the recent Iloilo Supermart robbery.

“If they had inside help, I don’t think they would have gone to the trouble of digging an underground tunnel,” said Colonel Kim Legada, Iloilo City police chief.

So far, police have not identified any person of interest in the case.

However, they are pursuing a lead involving a vehicle seen in the area around the time the robbery was believed to have occurred. Legada declined to provide further details.

Legada also stated that it is not conclusive that the suspects are members of the so-called “termite gang,” a group known for robbing banks, pawnshops, and various establishments by using bolt cutters, hydraulic jacks, and other equipment to gain entry.

The group’s name is a play on the termites’ tendency to bore into objects or places.

“Their modus operandi is similar, but it could have been carried out by anyone,” Legada said.

The original “termite gang” was traced to the Cordillera region, where many men are involved in mining and excavation work.

However, Legada noted that there have been no reports indicating the presence of robbers from other provinces.

Meanwhile, following an investigation by the Iloilo City Forensic Unit, the amount stolen from Iloilo Supermart in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City, was estimated at P1.5 million, up from the initial report of P1.3 million.