By Dolores Mose and Jennryrose Bitago
Policemen in Olongapo City arrested the teller of the Western Union branch owned by JDR16 money changer along Magsaysay Avenue who was the suspect in the June 21 robbery.
In a belated report, Police Capt. Allan de los Reyes, commander of police station 3 , identified the suspect as Gerald Bumanlag, 24, a member of the Philippine Navy service and currently studying Criminology.
De los Reyes said the arrest was made less than eight hours after the crime.
An initial investigation showed that the suspect had told his workmates that he could not report for duty that day.
Police said Bumanlag carried out the heist alone using a gun that was later found to be only a replica or toy gun.
De los Reyes said the suspect walked into the establishment and wore sunglasses and a jacket as a disguise.
It was not immediately known if he pretended to be a customer to get inside the shop.
Police said Bumanlag then threatened the employees with a gun, including a lady guard stationed at the entrance.
“Wag ka ng papalag, ate (Don’t resist),” Bumanlag allegedly told the guard, who later identified him by his voice.
“Maski nag disguised siya, nung tinutukan niya yung lady guard, na recognize siya thru his voice (Even if the suspect was in a disguise, his voice was recognized by the lady guard,” said De los Reyes.
The suspect shoved the guard into an inner room where the money was, but stopped talking so he would not be recognized by the second teller he had been sitting side-by-side all year long as a teller, investigators said.
Bumanlag reportedly panicked when he saw a police officer from nearby Station 3 walking across the street.
In his haste to flee from the scene, he left behind P2.4 million pesos, but still carted away an undetermined amount of money.
In a follow-up operation, police cordoned off exit points in the city, then used a co-worker’s phone to send messages to the suspect and lure him back to the vicinity of the robbery.
“Akala nya hindi sya identified. Nagbihis siya, inalis niya yung jacket niya, bumalik siya dun sa area, sa scene, sa Magsaysay… Hindi niya alam na nandun na mga operatiba” (The suspect thought he was not identified, he removed his jacket and went back to crime scene at Magsaysay Avenue. He didn’t know that policemen were already there), added De los Reyes.
Upon arrest, police found in Bumanlag’s bag the black jacket he wore during the robbery and a shade.
The lady guard cried upon seeing the jacket, and was certain it was their teller who skipped work that day.
Police also found P25,000 in the suspect’s possession.
Bumanlag denied his participation in the crime, said De los Reyes.
The suspect was temporarily detained at Police Station 3 after police filed an inquest case against him before the city prosecution office on June 22.
De los Reyes stressed, “Kasalukuyan po, nakakulong siya sa police station 3 bagaman siya’y nananatili pa ring inosente until proven guilty (The suspect will still be detained at station 3, but he will remain innocent until proven guilty).” FREEPORT INSIDER
