Manaoag Police Chief Mateo Casupang said they are confident the robbery inside the Our Lady of Manaoag Church last Thursday evening will be solved soon.
Casupang said he received a report of the incident Friday morning from Fr. Butch Bombase.
Initial investigation showed that the robbers settled for the P1,200 in cash at the cashier's drawer.
The police official said the robbery could have happened between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. as the church's two gates close at 9 p.m.
After the closing time, the security guards on duty conduct inspection inside the church and around the compound.
"The perpetrators could be more than two persons as the vault is heavy. There was forcible entry to the office. We are puzzled on why the security guards did not hear any noise despite the fact the robbers tried to open the vault by pounding it," said Casupang.
On the inside job angle, he believed the perpetrators have access to the church as they seem to know very well their way inside.
He said they have gathered fingerprints and they will compare these to the security guards and the church staff or personnel.
Casupang added that agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Dagupan are helping them in the investigation. (LCMY/Sunnex)
