UNIDENTIFIED armed men robbed an electric cooperative and a distillery plant in separate incidents in Negros Occidental on Tuesday, February 19.
In Manapla town, six armed men allegedly ransacked the main office of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) in Barangay Tortosa at 10:55 p.m.
The robbers, who were wearing bonnets, carted away the cash amounting to about P500,000.
Senior Inspector Julius Caesar Colado, town police chief, said the robbers entered the vicinity through the fence at the back of the building and reportedly disarmed four security guards, whom they later locked inside the board room. They also took the cellular phones of the security guards.
They then went to some offices at the administrative building and allegedly took the cash amounting to P300,000 from the cooperative and some amount from other offices amounting to P200,000.
Colado said the perpetrators also reportedly took the guards' two .9mm caliber firearms. They fled on a motorcycle.
Colado said the guards were able to get out of the board room when they forcibly destroyed the doorknob after the robbers escaped.
Colado said they are tracking some personalities whom he alleged to be members of an organized crime group operating outside the town.
He said robbery cases were previously recorded in the area, victimizing bus passengers. But it was the first time this incident happened in Noneco.
In Murcia town, five armed men robbed the Tanduay Distillery plant in Barangay Blumentritt at 2 a.m.
Chief Inspector Roberto Indiape Jr., town police chief, said the robbers entered the compound through the vacant lot at the back of the plant.
Three robbers served as a lookout outside the plant.
Indiape said two security guards were at the main gate when the incident happened.
The robbers allegedly carted away P7,090 worth of cash from an employee and one of the guards.
They also took the guards' shotgun and .9mm caliber. They then returned the shotgun before they fled.
Indiape said they entered some offices but did not get anything.
They told the guards they only needed cash and left.
Indiape said they do not discount the possibility the incident might be “inside job” because of the actions of the robbers.
However, they are considering the possibility that the perpetrators were members of an organized crime group operating in the province.
Indiape said no closed-circuit television camera was installed in the compound.
He said Senior Superintendent Romeo Baleros, officer-in-charge of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, visited the area for inspection.
Both police chiefs will check if the same perpetrators committed the crime in their respective areas. (GYM)