P6.2M stolen from armored vehicle in seconds – security escort

Update

MANILA — It only took seconds for robbers to steal P6.2 million from the crew members of an armored vehicle, who were about to reload an ATM booth, on Remedios street in Ermita early Monday.

None of the three crew members, which included a security escort armed with a shotgun and a 9mm, a teller technician, and a driver, could say if the robbers used high powered firearms or where and how the robbers escaped.

READ: Robbers take P6.2M from BPI armored van in Manila

All that Jessie dela Cruz, the van’s security escort, could say was he “didn’t want to die yet.”

“Everything happened too fast, just seconds,” Dela Cruz told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an interview at the Manila Police District’s theft and robbery section.

Supt. Marissa Bruno, MPD’s public information office chief, said investigators were looking at several angles, including inside job.

In an interview with reporters, Bruno said MPD formed a special investigation task group composed of different units to oversee the probe.

Chief Insp. Alex Rodrigo, head of the Theft and Robbery section, refused to make conclusions and assumptions pending investigation. He also brushed off speculations that the heist was election-related or that there were parties out to create an atmosphere of lawlessness in the days leading to the May 9 elections.

The officer-on-case, Police Officer 3 Rodel Benitez said the armored van of G4S Cash Solutions Phil. Inc had just parked in front of the Bank of Philippine Islands branch on Remedios Street at the corner of Taft Avenue when the heist happened.

Dela Cruz said the van arrived there at 2:22 a.m. Following the industry protocol, he alighted first, scanned the area, before giving teller technician Arnold Marollano, 21, the signal to get off and bring the cash to the bank.

Dela Cruz said he finished scanning the site at 2:25 a.m. He even remembered ordering a taong grasa to leave before giving Marollano a green signal.

Dela Cruz added that they had to enter the bank, which he said had no security guard at that time, to reload the money because the opening of the ATM was inside the establishment.

Driver Rizal de Daulo, 36, meanwhile, stayed inside the vehicle.

Rodrigo said Marollano was unlocking the door when someone declared the robbery. Dela Cruz said the robber pointed a gun at his left nape, asked for his guns, then took the square-shaped bag containing the money on the floor.

Benitez said the robbers boarded a white L300 van as a getaway vehicle. The plate number has yet to be established.

Dela Cruz said he didn’t want to fight because “I didn’t want to die yet.” He added that he had no idea where the robbers came from or how they escaped. He also didn’t see what firearms were used because he was busy just giving up his guns.

Rodrigo said they have not established how the robbers trailed the armored van.  Initial probe showed that prior to the heist, the van delivered money to three ATM booths, including the Land Bank ATM booth inside the Manila Police District.  SFM