5 robbers arrested after digging through Ozamiz City mall to steal millions in cash, jewelry

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) — Local police are set to file a complaint against five robbers who allegedly dug through a popular shopping mall in Ozamiz City on New Year’s Eve, with their stolen loot totaling at least ₱29.8 million.

The Ozamiz City Police said the complaint will be filed on Wednesday afternoon against five workers from a small amusement park located beside Gaisano Mall. It said a co-worker and a regular bettor pointed to the identity of the burglars.

“Merong witness na nagbigay ng statement na mga kasamahan nila ang tumira. Nakunan na ng mga gamit — mga suot nila at mga tools na ginamit sa pagbutas,” investigator PSMS Mark Alvin Pacatang told CNN Philippines in a phone interview.

[Translation: A witness gave a statement that their co-workers are behind the crime. We retrieved the clothes they were wearing during the incident and the tools they used to carry out the crime.]

The police said the robbers dug a tunnel from the fair’s compound to a nearby drainage, leading up to Gaisano Mall’s food court area. Pacatang said the robbers’ entry and exit points weren’t easily visible.

“Hindi namin makita sa tabi ng mall ang exit nila. May tauhan kaming pinapasok sa butas at hinalughog ang ilalim… Doon na sila sa perya, sa likod (lumabas). Hindi makikita ng tao kasi nasa tabi ng pader, diretso sa drainage,” he said.

[Translation: We weren’t able to find their exit point on the side of the mall. Our personnel went through the tunnel. The exit point was in the back part of the fair. People won’t see it because they passed through the drainage.]

The investigator said the burglars forcibly opened an automated teller machine where they were able to steal around ₱50,000 to P80,000. He added they also stole ₱29 million worth of jewelry and ​₱​​​​​​721,000 in cash from Oro Italia Fine Jewelry Shop, while another jewelry shop that was also victimized is still ascertaining how much it lost.

Despite the arrest of the five robbers, authorities are continuing the manhunt operation to look for possibly more perpetrators as Pacatang said they are receiving many names allegedly involved in the crime. He added they are also hoping to recover the rest of the stolen loot.