Police suspect ‘inside job’ in Comelec-Tuguegarao robbery

CAGAYAN, Philippines – Police are not ruling out the possibility of a “inside job” in the robbery of a local Commission of Elections (Comelec) office in Tuguegarao City.

Superintendent Jessie Tamayao, Tuguegarao city chief of police, said this was because the robbers seemed to have been familiar with the layout of the Comelec office.

The robbery, which happened Friday evening, July 24, resulted in loss of some documents.

“Parang alam na alam na nila eh kung saan yung documents. Tinitiningnan natin yung anggulo na ‘yan,” Tamayao, referring to a possible inside job, told Rappler in a phone interview.

Tamayao, however, declined to specify which kind of documents were missing, because the investigation is still underway.

“Sinira po nila yung kandado ng opisina. Wala rin namang security guard ang building (They destroyed the door’s lock. The building had no security guards),” Tamayo said.

Prior to the office break-in, Delfin Ting, who lost to Tuguegarao Mayor Jefferson Soriano during the 2013 mayoralty election, had filed a petition for a recount before the Comelec’s national office, according to Ting’s son, Raul Ting.

Rappler has been trying to contact lawyer Boris Bannauag, Comelec-Tuguegarao coordinator, but calls and text messages have remained unanswered. – Rappler.com