DAVAO CITY — A brazen midday robbery inside a shopping mall in Barangay Buhangin has raised serious concerns over security protocols after armed suspects managed to enter the premises undetected and escape within minutes on April 11.
According to a report from the Buhangin Police Station, at least three to four unidentified men staged a daring heist targeting a jewelry shop located inside Gaisano Grand Citygate along Tigatto–Cabantian Road.
Witnesses said the suspects struck shortly after 12:00 noon, with one of them brandishing a short firearm and immediately declaring a holdup upon entering the store. The group swiftly grabbed an undetermined amount of gold jewelry before fleeing the scene in less than a minute.
Authorities said the suspects reportedly used the mall’s basement area as an entry and exit point—raising alarm over how armed individuals were able to bypass standard security checks typically enforced at mall entrances.
“This incident highlights a critical gap in mall security. The fact that suspects were able to carry a firearm inside and execute a robbery in broad daylight suggests possible lapses in screening procedures,” a police source said.
The suspects managed to escape before security personnel could respond, further intensifying scrutiny on the mall’s internal emergency response system.
Police are now reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to identify and track down the perpetrators. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the group had prior knowledge of the mall’s layout and security routines.
The incident has sparked fear among shoppers and tenants, with many questioning how a firearm was able to enter a supposedly secure commercial space without detection.
Mall management has yet to release an official statement as of writing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects to come forward, assuring that all tips will be treated with strict confidentiality.
The investigation is ongoing.