• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Thieves struck a shopping mall for the second time in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, carting away about P1.5 million in cash and goods, using a tunnel they had dug as an entry and exit point, according to the police.
The breach in the security of the Gaisano Capital in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, was discovered on Tuesday, with the burglars believed to have made their entry shortly before midnight of August 19.
Police probers discovered a tunnel going into a pharmacy inside the shopping mall. The thieves looted several stores inside Gaisano Capital, including Grace Pharmacy, Handyman, Galleon Enterprises Telecom, Belceña Jewelry, and Yung Luck Star Jewelry store, taking cash, jewelry, cellphones, and other valuables.
PCol. Rainerio de Chavez, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said two suspects wearing bonnets were captured by the CCTV footage, which is being reviewed by investigators of the San Carlos City Police Station.
Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer of San Carlos City, said that Mayor Renato Gustilo has offered a P100,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
In March this year, nine commercial establishments inside the same shopping mall were also ransacked by burglars who took P450,600 in cash and valuables.
The suspects gained entry through an air conditioning vent which was discovered to have been destroyed.
Given the recent incident, de Chavez ordered all police commanders to boost intelligence monitoring and adjust deployment plans to address the issue.
He also advised them to coordinate closely with all business establishments in order to come up with strategies to avoid occurrence of similar incidents.
Rest assured, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office will not ease up on the conduct of investigation until we put the culprits behind bars, de Chavez added.*
