An “inside job” angle is being explored by police probers in the ransacking of the Hinobaan town municipal hall.

Senior Inspector Robert Indiape, Hinobaan police chief, said yesterday that the suspects appeared to be familiar with the area and location of the money.

The suspects, believed to be not less than three, took about P460,000 in cash from the steel cabinets they had destroyed. The stolen money was intended for the feeding program of the municipal government of Hinobaan, and salaries of some of its employees.

Indiape said fingerprint samples were taken from employees assigned at the Hinobaan municipal treasurer’s office, for comparison with fingerprints taken at the scene.

Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the theft incidents at city and town halls in Negros Occidental are becoming a bit alarming, as there seems to be a pattern.

Marañon said he has instructed that the town and city collections be placed in treasurers’ vaults over the weekend, as they are stronger and difficult to break into.

Lax security is being blamed for the ransacking of municipal and city halls in Negros Occidental, that have occurred despite repeated reminders by the police for concerned local government units to be vigilant.

Other local government units victimized by thieves were those of the cities of Escalante and Bago, and the municipality of Cauayan.

It seems the thieves have learned from the Escalante incident, Marañon said.

Meanwhile, Indiape said he also noted that the ransacking incident was initiated by the suspects, while policemen on duty responded to the reported firing of a gun early morning of Saturday.

Police probers recovered a bolt cutter inside the Hinobaan treasurer’s office.

Indiape said they are monitoring a group of persons linked to theft and ransacking incidents in Sipalay City.

The Hinobaan police is seeking the help of town residents in the solution to the ransacking incident.*GPB

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