Police will conduct a nationwide manhunt for Pascual Urian Jr., the casino security officer accused of running off with P2.8 million cash from the vault of Pagcor Casino Mandaue City branch.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered his immediate arrest.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said Robredo ordered the creation of a task force to track down Urian.
Aside from the Mandaue City Police Office, several intelligence units, the military and other law enforcement agencies will be tapped.
Garbo said the police have already coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs to prevent Urian from leaving the country.
Garbo welcomed Pagcor’s move to offer a cash reward for Urian’s capture.
Garbo said Pagcor general manager Joy Roxas asked the assistance of Robredo for the recent theft case which took place past midnight Saturday during a downpour.
The security officer was seen leaving the building with a plastic bag of cash. Urian threw money bills on the ground to distract bystanders before he boarded a taxi.
Mandaue police on Sunday went to Urian’s hometown in Talibon in Bohol province but didn’t find him there. Urian’s stepfather was arrested for keeping an unlicensed gun in his home in Mandaue City last Sunday./CORRESPONDENTS CHITO O. ARAGON AND FE MARIE D. DUMABOC