By Jennifer P. Rendon
Cash and bottles of liquor were taken from a store in Cabatuan following a robbery on July 28.
Captain Dionisio Estacio, Cabatuan police chief, said the incident was discovered around 7 a.m. on Sunday but was reported to police five hours later.
The incident was discovered after another tenant noticed that the roll-up door was slightly lifted. Initially, it was thought that the owner was inside and had left the door ajar.
However, it was later found that the padlock was destroyed.
The store, which sells groceries, beverages, and liquor, lost around P54,000 in cash placed inside a plastic chamber pot, four bottles of Fundador Light brandy, and four bottles of Alfonso Light brandy.
Estacio said the owner claimed it was not their practice to leave large amounts of cash at the store.
She was supposed to retrieve it at closing time but failed due to heavy rains. The money was intended for payment for the store’s delivery on Sunday.
Based on the store’s CCTV footage, the three suspects – two males and a female – arrived by motorcycle.
They did not immediately destroy the padlock. They first stood by near the store’s door and later destroyed the padlock when they noticed no one was around.
As this developed, Estacio said they had already identified one of the three suspects. He did not name the suspect but claimed he is also from Cabatuan town.
The suspects, believed to be around 15 to 20 years old, are not the same individuals who robbed two stores in the town proper several months ago.
