Former PC officer lost P900T, injured in Pinamungajan heist

A FORMER member of the now defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) lost P900,000 in a robbery in Barangay Pandacan, Pinamungajan, Cebu on Saturday.

But police have doubts about the incident after they didn’t see signs of forced entry inside the house of Alfonso Pama, said Senior Insp. Almirante Bacayo, the town’s police chief.

The robbery reportedly happened at 2 a.m., when the 81-year-old victim, a widow, was stirred from his sleep after he heard some noise.

Pama told police he saw two men and a woman wearing bonnets inside the house. When he asked them what they were doing in his house, the robbers reportedly hit him with a wood.

When the victim went back inside his room, the money placed inside some wooden box was already missing and the robbers had already left.

Bacayo told Sun.Star Cebu they conducted an inspection but didn’t notice signs of forced entry.

The victim said the robbers could have used a knife in opening the back door. When the police chief tried this, he had a hard time opening the door.

If the robbery indeed happened, Bacayo said, they are eyeing two possible angles: The victim’s relatives could be involved or several women that he had been with recently.

“Daghan man kaayo ni siyang mga uyab-uyab nga batan-on (He has many young girlfriends),” the police chief said.

Pama has been living alone following the death of his wife. He earned P2 million cash last year after selling a parcel of land owned by his wife.

Pama was advised by his relatives to deposit the money in the bank but he refused.

“Mahadlok siya ma-bankrupt ang bangko unya wala na siya’y makuha (He is afraid the bank might go bankrupt),” Bacayo said.

He told police he saw the money still intact last Jan. 5. He frequently goes to a neighboring barangay to gamble.

Bacayo, during the interview, said the victim refused to coordinate with their investigation.

“Pasagdan nalang kuno ‘tong kwarta. Dili na siya interesado ato (He’s not interested in the money anymore),” the police chief said.

Bacayo said the victim’s grandchildren could have held grudges with the victim for not sharing them with his money.

“Adto ra man lagi kuno iwaldas sa mga babaye. We will still have to establish this,” he said.