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Friday, May 23, 2003
NBI asked to probe P15M Land Bank highway heist
By May Anne Cacdac
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) was tapped to help police solve the P15 million Land Bank highway robbery that occurred in Abatan, Buguias, Benguet last March 25.
This developed even as Land Bank-Northern and Central Luzon Branches head Simeona Guevarra told reporters Thursday that they are not discounting the possibility of an inside job.
"We have already asked the NBI to do an extensive probe on the matter and they will be looking into all internal and external elements," he said.
Guevarra said the March 25 incident was "the fourth highway robbery that was experienced by the (Land Bank) North Luzon group. The last robbery was the only robbery that did not involve our armored cars. The first three robberies involved our armored cars but that did not help. Kahit armored cars walang nagawa."
She added that the local police, on their latest report, theorized that only one group is involved in all the four robberies. "The bank is closely coordinating with the authorities on the matter."
Earlier, allegations on the involvement of the police or military personnel on the robbery came following observations by concerned sources that the police has not yet issued a positive progress report on the manhunt operation against the seven armed-men, who snatched two large boxes containing about P15-million in cash to be delivered to Land Bank branches in Abatan and Bontoc, Mt. Province.
The Police Regional Office in the Cordilleras, however, denied the alleged involvement of the police or military in the highway robbery, although Supt. Rimas Calixto, chief PRO-CAR's Intelligence and Investigation Division, also told Sun.Star that his office received information that one of the seven robbers was a former policeman.
"Investigation is still on-going and we hope to establish the identities of the seven armed men," he was quoted as saying.
Reliable sources pointed out that the seven-armed men, who fled on foot towards the boundaries of Buguias, Benguet and Tinoc, Ifugao, are very familiar with the terrain.
The robbers got away in a gray Tamaraw FX van north towards Abatan, sped past the police station and turned right towards Loo valley in a dramatic getaway.
Amateur radio groups monitored the chase as the hold-up gang sped along Loo. The police gave chase but gave up as the gang brandished a grenade launcher at their direction.
They were also said to be armed with M-16 rifles, two M-14 rifles, two shotguns seized from the bank security guards and a grenade launcher.
Guevarra said that although the Land Bank is mulling the put up of automated teller machines in far-flung areas of the region to be able to lessen the risk of these robberies during the transport of the money, it is unlikely since the communication lines in the region still have to be enhanced.
"We risk life and limb whenever we transport money into the areas where there are no ATMs. However, we are committed to doing our jobs since Land Bank is the only bank that caters to the needs of our agri and agra clients in the region," Guevarra added.
She said that the bank is currently negotiating for an airlift transfer of money into these far-flung areas. "Instead of using armored vehicles to transport the money, we are looking into the possibility of using a helicopter instead."
Meanwhile, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Teves claimed that the bank has been greatly disturbed by the incident.
"In banking, one of the most important aspects is security. If there are incidents like this one, the trust and confidence of the people are greatly jeopardized," he said.
However, Teves said that the possibility of putting up ATMs in the far-flung areas of the region would still have to be studied carefully.
"We have to study if putting up ATMs in these hard to reach areas will prove more beneficial than detrimental to our clients," he said.
(May 23, 2003 issue)
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