Bank employees lose P1.7 million to armed robbers

NAGA CITY (Dec. 9, 2011) - “Riding in tandem” armed robbers struck again, taking away at gunpoint P1.7 million from 2 bank employees of Rural Bank of Peñafrancia in Calabanga, Camarines Sur who withdrew the money from a branch of Banco de Oro in Magsaysay Avenue,  Naga City.

According to the Naga City Police Office, the armed robbers could have tailed the two employees and ambushed their service vehicle after they withdrew the money in a relatively isolated area along Liboton St., less than a kilometer away from Banco de Oro.

Police sources reported that 9 shots were fired by the suspects at the bank’s service vehicle, forcing the driver to bring it to a halt. The suspects then grabbed the money bag from Rebecca Guinto Ombao, another employee of the Rural Bank of Peñafrancia.

A policeman identified as PO2 Milano and presently assigned at the municipal police station of Minalabac passed the crime scene accidentally and assisted in bringing Añonuevo to the Bicol Medical Center.

 Police intelligence sources here said the armed robbers belong to an organized crime group whose criminal activities were reported in Daet, Camarines Norte last month.

City Police director Sr. Supt. Roberto Gardiola has ordered an integrated patrol system within the city using police patrols in motorcycles as a deterrent to street crimes.

Naga police had kept “riding in tandem” holdups in check in the for months until this recent incident. (SONNY SALES)