MANILA, Philippines – Authorities are now investigating the bank robbery incident that happened along Sto. Cristo Street in Binondo on Thursday morning (July 11).
Based on the CCTV footage recovered from a nearby barangay hall, two men were seen waiting outside the Metrobank Binondo branch.
When the door opened, the two rushed to get in then three other men followed.
Authorities wondered why the bank employee allowed the two men to enter the bank when it was still minutes earlier than the regular banking hour of 9:00 a.m.
Aside from the five men inside the bank, two others who were on motorbikes served as lookouts nearby.
Authorities were able to report the incident at 9:18 a.m. but the bank management only allowed the investigators to enter the bank premises two hours after.
“Pagdating lang ni Mayor saka lang pinapasok. Noong kinausap na ni Mayor ‘yung branch manager at saka ‘yung chief security ng Metrobank, 2 hours, (They allowed (the police) only when Mayor (Isko) arrived, only when Mayor Isko talked to the branch manager and the security chief of Metrobank, that was two hours after,)” explained Cesar Chavez, Manila Mayor Isko Domagoso’s chief of staff.
The bank management argued that such decision of not allowing investigators to just go in was in compliance with the protocol imposed by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
“Ang nakakapagtaka diyan is bakit nakapasok sila before banking hours. Number two, iyong mga nakapasok alam nila kung saan kukunin ang CCTV footages, (What’s suspicious is why they (robbers) were able to enter earlier than banking hours. Number two, the robbers know where to get the CCTV footages,)” noted BGen. Vicente Danao, Chie of the Manila Police District.
According to MPD, one of the suspects possibly disguised as security supervisor so he was allowed entry into the bank.
The suspects are still at large but the MPD confirmed that they already identified persons of interest in relation to the case.
Mayor Domagoso announced earlier P1-M bounty for the immediate capture of the culprits.
“Ako po ay nagbibigay ng isang milyong piso sa sinoman makapagbibigay ng impormasyon para mahuli ito. Pito kayo diba? Tsutsu niyo na ‘yung anim, may isang milyon ka pa, (I am giving P1 million to who ever has information about them. There are seven of you. Speak of the other six and I give you one million),” Domagoso said enticing the suspects of the reward money.
Meanwhile, the Metrobank management condemned the incident while it assured that no one among its employees and clients was hurt.
“Metrobank condemns the robbery at our Sto. Cristo branch in Manila earlier today. No clients were affected by the act and all Metrobankers are safe,” the bank’s management in a statement said.
“We will be working closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended,” the statement read further. – with details from April Cenedoza
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