Negros town bank loses P1.3-M to alleged 'inside job'


BACOLOD CITY - Local policemen are looking at a possible “inside job” after the Rural Bank of Ilog Inc. reportedly lost P1.3 million cash to robbers at their branch in Barangay 1 Poblacion, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Wednesday.

Police probe the alleged bank robbery in Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental, after P1.3 million cash went missing Wednesday. (Photo courtesy of Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station / MANILA BULLETIN)

Police Maj. Clifford Batadhay, Hinoba-an town police chief, said six bank employees were subjected to investigation, after it appeared that there was no forcible entry into the bank.

Batadhay said the bank employees discovered on Thursday morning that the roll up door of the bank was already open.

Upon the initial investigation of the police, it turned out that the perpetrator allegedly passed through the unlocked glass window of the bank late Wednesday night, Batadhay said.

Batadhay said the bank has no security guard and the perpetrator probably knew how to secure the wire connections of the closed circuit television (CCTV), as well as the bank’s security alarm, considering that the alleged robbery incident was not captured or was not detected immediately.

Aside from that, Batadhay also pointed out that the perpetrator may have knowledge of the code of the cash vault where the money was being kept.

Batadhay said they could not yet confirm if it was indeed an “inside job” pending the result of the investigation.

The bank’s management is already coordinating with the police on the investigation.