By Jennifer P. Rendon
A neighborhood grocery store in Zarraga, Iloilo was swept clean of its cigarette stock in a burglary incident.
Police believed that the suspects ransacked Delmond Trading Center located at Bangga Bante, Barangay Jalaud Norte, Zarraga, at past 1 a.m. on Nov. 18.
The incident was only reported several hours later.
According to reports, the store staff was about to start its business for the day when employees were surprised when they learned that it was open.
The three padlocks on the store’s gate were missing and so was the padlock on its folded front enclosure.
Upon inventory, the store management declared that reams of cigarettes amounting to around P100,000 were missing.
The store owned by Redilla Pedregosa of San Vicente Subdivision, Leganes, Iloilo, claimed they also lost five bottles of Fundador Light brandy amounting to P1,475, around P3,000 in money bills and coins of different denominations.
Captain Raphy Señeres, Zarraga police chief, said that the suspects could have scaled the front steel gate and destroyed the padlocks to gain entry to the store.
Initial investigation showed that there were three men on board a tricycle.
But Señeres said that it’s not yet conclusive that they are the suspects.
He added that they have also secured additional CCTV footage that has given them leads on possible persons of interest.
Señeres is not also discounting the possibility that the incident could be an inside job.
But he’s mum on the details of the suspects claiming that it might jeopardize their ongoing investigation.
