CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama and Chito Cabaero, immediate past president of the Cebu Bankers Club, commended the police for their fast action.
Cabaero confirmed that police authorities alerted banks to be extra vigilant because of reports that armed robbers from other provinces were spotted in Cebu City.
“We’re always kept informed,” Cabaero said.
Cabaero said the incident should be a lesson to always be on guard and take extra precautions when cash is being delivered outside the bank because they did not know when the robbers would attack.
The mayor assured that the city government would shoulder the medical expenses of the wounded policemen brought to Chong Hua Hospital.
“I already called the hospital. They don’t have to be worried. What happened to them was in the line of duty,” he said.
“This must send a strong message to the robbers that we are serious about our campaign against criminality,” Rama said, who challenged the police to catch the mastermind.
“Yes, we took the challenge. In fact, one of the suspects who were killed is the mastermind,” said Cebu City Police Chief Melvin Buenafe.
In a press conference, Buenafe said the robbers may be a breakaway faction of the Kuratong Baleleng robbery gang. /Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan and Edison delos Angeles