Robbers take P1.7M in daylight heist

Some P1.7 million in cash was carted away by three armed robbers from employees of a courier firm in the town of Pototan, Iloilo on Thursday morning, July 29.

The incident took place at around 8:40 in Barangay Rumbang, about 150 meters away from a J&T Express branch.

Master Sergeant Mark Parreño, Pototan police investigator, said Mila Mhar Gente, 23, finance and admin officer of J&T Express-Pototan, was on her way to deposit the cash in a branch of PNB Bank in the town when the robbers on board a black Bajaj motorcycle blocked their way.

Gente, a resident of Barangay Manaulan, Badiangan, Iloilo, was also aboard a motorcycle driven by Egardo Abido, 29, of Lopez Jaena Street, Pototan and a J&T Express sorter.

One of the suspects tried to grab Gente’s bag containing the cash. The female employee fell off from the motorcycle.

Parreño said supect then poked a gun at Gente and snatched the bag, which also contained a mobile phone, ATM cards, and other important documents.

The suspects immediately fled towards the direction of Barotac Nuevo town.

A hot pursuit operation led to the arrest of one of the three “persons of interest” on Friday, July 30.

Colonel Gilbert Gorero, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, said the suspected robber, whose name was withheld, is already in police custody.