POLICE continue to investigate the alleged robbery on June 10 involving P15.6 million worth of gold from Itogon Suyoc Resources Incorporated.
Investigation revealed unidentified armed suspects declared hold up between 3:20 to 3:30 a.m. on Monday at Sitio Bagingey, Poblacion, Itogon, Benguet against driver Radito Quinto and accounting escort Benny Canor who were about to deliver six gold buttons.
Gold buttons obtained by the suspects are Button no: 165 weighing 1.67 kilos, Button no. 166 at .7359 kilos, Button no. 167 at 1.2115 kilos, Button no. 168 at 1.3689 kilos, Button no. 169 at 2.0806 kilos, and Button no. 170 at 1.5297 kilos.
Police said a total of 8.5966 kilos or equivalent to 250.743 ounces with an estimated value of P15, 646,363 were carted away by the suspects.
Itogon Municipal Police Station (MPS) OIC Police Major Romel Sawatang ordered the Police Community Precinct Personnel and asked Bokod MPS to conduct checkpoint to find the suspects.
Sawatang said following the incident, investigation, monitoring and extraction of sworn statement is ongoing for employees of ISRI.
The police chief added the two victims narrated suspects were armed with alleged rifles and pistols.
“Upon the hold up, the victims were asked to be on the ground, the suspects obtained the gold items, drove, left the victims and throw the car key,” Sawatang said.
Upon learning of the incident, possible exits were blocked and coordinated with adjacent units and crime laboratory personnel.
At the crime scene, two steel spike scattered beside the road and one laptop, owned by ISRI company according to the Resident Manager Michael Tauli, were scattered about six meters below the road who was present during the investigation.
The car key was found 10 meters away from the company vehicle. (With a report from Jonathan Llanes)