Photos courtesy of the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office
COTABATO CITY (June 19) — Armed men intercepted employees of a community bank and carted away P1.6 million in cash during a brazen daytime robbery along a road in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, authorities said.
The attack happened on Wednesday, June 17, at Sitio Miranda in Barangay Damilag, where employees of South Bank Libona were reportedly on their way to deposit the money at a Land Bank branch in the town center.
According to local officials and police investigators, the bank employees were traveling in a car when they were waylaid by gunmen riding a Ford Ranger pickup truck.
Investigators said the assailants opened fire on the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control. The car veered off the road and crashed into a concrete flood-control ditch along Camp Fabia Road.
Witnesses and barangay officials said the armed men quickly got out of their vehicle, approached the stranded bank employees, and seized a bag containing P1.6 million in cash at gunpoint.
The suspects then fled the scene before responding authorities could intercept them.
No casualties were immediately reported, although the bank employees were left shaken by the incident.
South Bank Libona serves clients from farming communities, livelihood groups, and cooperatives in Manolo Fortich and neighboring towns. The stolen funds were reportedly intended for deposit at a local bank branch.
The robbery has raised concerns among residents and local business operators over the safety of transporting large sums of money on public roads.
Police investigators have launched a manhunt and are reviewing possible leads to identify the perpetrators. Intelligence units from the Police Regional Office-10 and the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division are also assisting in the investigation.
Authorities have yet to determine whether the robbery was carried out by an organized criminal group or suspects who had prior knowledge of the cash transfer.
Police said efforts are ongoing to track down the gunmen and recover the stolen money.
