MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon — Police have arrested one of the persons of interest linked to the daylight highway robbery and shooting that netted ₱1.677 million from employees of South Bank Libona in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, more than a month after the brazen attack.
The suspect, identified only by his aliases “Delfin” and “Jong-Jong,” was apprehended during the implementation of a search warrant early Saturday morning in Zone 13, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the suspect is believed to be a member of the group responsible for the June 17 ambush in Sitio Miranda, Barangay Damilag, Manolo Fortich, where armed men intercepted a vehicle carrying South Bank Libona employees and forcibly took the bank’s cash collections amounting to ₱1,677,000.
Firearms, Grenade, and Suspected Drugs Recovered
Authorities recovered several illegal items from the suspect’s residence during the search warrant operation, including:
- One .45-caliber pistol
- One .38-caliber revolver
- A hand grenade
- Several rounds of ammunition
- Multiple sachets containing suspected shabu
Police said the confiscated firearms will undergo ballistic examination to determine whether they match the weapons used during the robbery and shooting incident in Bukidnon.
PLTCOL Sandro Santillan, Acting Regional Chief of the CIDG, said investigators are continuing to build the case while tracking down the remaining members of the robbery group.
Suspect Denies Robbery Involvement
Following his arrest, alias “Jong-Jong” denied having any participation in the robbery of the South Bank vehicle.
His mother likewise insisted that her son was not involved in the robbery, describing him as a well-behaved individual with no known disputes in their community. However, she admitted that her son had previously become involved in illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, several residents in the neighborhood expressed relief over the suspect’s arrest, saying they now feel safer after authorities took him into custody.
Ballistics Examination Underway
Investigators emphasized that the recovered firearms will be subjected to forensic testing to determine whether they were used during the June 17 attack, a key piece of evidence that could strengthen the case against the suspect.
Police also continue to pursue the remaining persons of interest believed to have participated in the robbery.
Daylight Ambush
The arrest marks the first major breakthrough in the investigation into the high-profile robbery that occurred at around 9:40 a.m. on June 17 along the Secondary National Highway in Sitio Miranda, Barangay Damilag.
During the incident, three South Bank Libona employees were transporting the bank’s daily collections aboard a Toyota Vios en route to a Land Bank branch in Manolo Fortich when they were intercepted by suspects riding a Ford Ranger Wildtrak.
The armed men blocked the victims’ vehicle before opening fire with both long and short firearms. Police later documented eight bullet holes on the windshield of the Toyota Vios, underscoring the intensity of the attack.
Authorities said the vehicle’s driver and security guard returned fire in an attempt to repel the attackers. However, the security guard reportedly ran out of ammunition, allowing the suspects to seize a bag containing ₱1.677 million in cash before fleeing through the Sayre Highway.
Despite the heavy exchange of gunfire, all three bank employees survived the attack without sustaining injuries.
Police earlier described the robbery as well-planned, believing the suspects had prior knowledge of the victims’ route and the substantial amount of cash being transported.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify and arrest the remaining suspects behind the daring highway robbery.