BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Renato Gustilo has offered a P100,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of individuals who robbed a shopping mall of P1.3 million in cash and assorted items in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, August 20.

ONE of the four establishments inside a mall in Barangay Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental that was robbed on Tuesday, August 20. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office)
Police Col. Rainerio de Chavez, Negros Occidental police director, has ordered a thorough investigation and directed the San Carlos City Police Station to leave no stone unturned in determining the identity of the suspects and bring them to justice.
The San Carlos City police station has launched a full-scale investigation on the incident and is working to gather evidence and track down the perpetrators.
“Rest assured that the Negros Occidental police will not ease up on the conduct of investigation until we put the culprits behind bars,” De Chavez said.
He said that they will double their prevention and anti-criminality efforts.
Police said two unidentified persons dug up a tunnel and accessed the mall through a drainage system late Monday night, August 19. The incident was discovered on Tuesday morning.
Carted away were P260,000 cash, gadgets, tools, and pieces of jewelry.
Police have persons of interest but are not ruling out the possibility that other persons were also involved. They believe that the suspects might be part of an organized group.
Gustilo has directed the San Carlos police to solve the case and prevent similar incidents.
Last March, P450,000 worth of gadgets were also stolen from the same mall during the Holy Week.
De Chavez appealed to San Carlos residents to cooperate with authorities by reporting any information that would assist in the swift resolution of the case.
He stressed that community cooperation is deemed crucial in ensuring the swift apprehension of the suspects.