Four branches of Alfamart in Rizal province were robbed in succession by unidentified suspects between Sunday evening, 1 March, and the early hours of 2 March, with more than P230,000 taken.

The first robbery was reported at around 10:58 p.m. Sunday along NHA Avenue in Barangay Dela Paz, Antipolo City.

Two armed men riding a Honda Click motorcycle entered the store and threatened employees identified only as John, Lailanie and Milky. The suspects forced the vault open while pointing a gun at the forehead of one of the victims and fled with P105,851.

Minutes later, at about 11:30 p.m., another Alfamart branch along C. Lawis Extension in Barangay San Isidro, also in Antipolo, was robbed.

At around 11:47 p.m., a third branch along Corazon C. Aquino Avenue in Barangay Poblacion, Teresa, was likewise hit.

Based on the investigation, two men wearing jackets and helmets took an estimated P86,287 from the vault before fleeing.

During an ocular inspection, authorities noted that the establishment lacked certain security protocols that could have potentially prevented the robbery.

At about 12:30 a.m. Monday, 2 March, another Alfamart branch along Manila East Road in Barangay Halayhayin, Pililla, was robbed.

According to a store employee identified only as alias Jinky, the suspects entered the store and, when instructed to remove their helmets, one of them drew a gun.

Out of fear, the victim surrendered P42,000 from the vault. Another P64,505 kept in a locked drawer was not taken before the suspects fled toward Tanay.

Local police stations are conducting an in-depth investigation.

Authorities have launched dragnet operations, Oplan Sita and CCTV backtracking to identify and arrest the suspects, who are believed to belong to a single group behind the series of robberies in the province.