Authorities in Zamboanga Sibugay have successfully apprehended the individual believed responsible for a major robbery at a local business establishment, recovering a significant amount of the stolen cash.
Chase Leads to Arrest in Neighboring Province
Police Colonel Barnard Danie Dasugo, the provincial police director, reported that the suspect was captured on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The arrest took place at approximately 8:30 in the morning within Anungan village, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. This operation concluded a four-day manhunt that began after the bold theft.
Details of the P1.5 Million Heist
The crime occurred on the evening of Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the Ipil Shoppers Choice store located in Poblacion village, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. The breach was discovered by the establishment's daytime security personnel.
Investigators pieced together a detailed sequence of events. The perpetrator allegedly entered the building by climbing onto a parked truck to access a second-floor stockroom. From there, the suspect moved downstairs, forced open a padlocked door leading to the vault area, and then managed to crack the vault itself.
The robber made off with an estimated P1.5 million in cash and escaped on a waiting tricycle. Dasugo stated the suspect initially evaded pursuing officers by fleeing towards Zamboanga del Norte province. However, persistent police work led to his location while he was riding a red multicab vehicle in Anungan village.
Recovery and Official Statement
From the suspect's possession, law enforcement recovered P587,000 of the stolen money. The recovered sum consisted of:
- 400 pieces of P1,000 bills
- 65 pieces of P200 bills
- 1,500 pieces of P100 bills
- 300 pieces of P50 bills
In an official statement, Colonel Dasugo emphasized the coordinated effort behind the arrest. "This successful arrest highlights the effectiveness of our continuous coordination among police units and our commitment to ensure that perpetrators of criminal acts are swiftly brought before the law," he said.
The suspect, whose identity has been withheld by authorities, is now detained at the Ipil Municipal Police Station. Police are preparing to file formal criminal charges against him.
