A robbery in broad daylight was scoffed upon by netizens as “scripted.”
Based on a CCTV footage, four suspects were involved in the brazen daylight robbery of a pawnshop along Ilustre Street in Davao City. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) released CCTV screen grab photos of three armed suspects with one carrying a long firearm.
INTRIGUING
The suspects allegedly used a defective motorcycle as a getaway vehicle and intriguingly did not even wear helmets.
After a hot pursuit operation, authorities were able to arrest one of the suspects at Bankerohan Public Market and recovered bags containing a 9mm handgun, a long firearm, dozens of ammunitions and some of the pieces of jewelries.
SCRIPTED
However, the incident received criticism from some media personalities and netizens online. Some followers of Edge Davao denounced the incident. Some even joked the incident was a “simex” or simulation exercise.
Lj Cui commented on an Edge Davao Facebook post: “Sa pila ka tuig na nag dala ang Duterte sa Davao krn pa? Kung kanus a kalaban ang mga bangag! Halata kaayo ang script.”
Earl Chua also commented “SCRIPTED kAAYO OY hahahah.”
Dhann Kevin B. Amad likened the incident to a Pinoy TV series: “Halata kaayong scripted. Murag Probinsyano.”
Daisy Llemit commented that the robbery was a sham staged to taint the image of Davao City.
“DRAMA KAAYO ANG MGA KALABAN NI FPRRD…PARA DAUTON ANG DAVAO,” she posted.
Tee Walalang also commented “Halos lahat ng taga Davao na pulis wala na jan. Puro assign ni torre anjan kaya nakakapagtaka ang crimen ngayon sa davao… dba obvious ang galawan ngayon sa davao para siraan dumihan ang tahimik na lugar. Been there for 6mos last year never had an issue or crime during my stay at kahit midnight na may pulis visibility parin. Partida madaling araw na kahit galing ka sa bar may pulis parin. Bat walang ganyan noon.”
Despite the claims by netizens, DCPO acting City Director Col. Hansel Marantan said the robbery incident is for real.
“That’s irrelevant now. This is not a simex, this is for real already. Nakita nyo ba yung alahas? It’s worth millions, we cannot provide such jewelry with that millions worth,” Marantan said in an interview.
Marantan said a follow-up operation is being conducted to capture the other suspects.
Marantan said that a big, organized group may be behind the robbery.
“There was a tipster and very accurate ang mga actions nila. It’s too early to make open statements now. Give us more time para imbestigahan pa para mabigyan kayo ng mas accurate na information. Give us a number of days. Heads will roll,” Marantan said.
Marantan also sent a warning to the perpetrators.
“Doon sa mga perpetrators meron kayong choice and the choice is to surrender but we will go after them,” he said.
For those who are planning to disrupt the peace and order of Davao City, Marantan warned “Not in Davao.”
Meanwhile, Public Safety and Security Office (PSSO) Head Angel Sumagaysay also confirmed that the robbery incident was not scripted or a “simex.”
Sumagaysay emphasized the effectiveness of the CCTV cameras set up in the city that captured the suspects and led to the arrest of one of them.
“Nakita nato ang gamit niya and ang na establish na protocol once na may mahagip. Nakuhaan sila sa CCTV sa mga areas kung asa nahitabo ug sa exit,” he said.
Sumagaysay also assured business owners that the city will intensify coordination among security clusters and strengthen the visibility of security forces in the strategic areas of the city.
