At least three thieves sneaked inside a mall in Pavia, Iloilo and robbed two establishments on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. 

A money changer lost cash approximately worth P500,000. 

A jewelry shop also lost items, but the value is yet to be determined, according to Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office. 

A security guard, on roving duties at 5:30 a.m., surmised that thieves were inside the establishment, based on the destroyed ceiling on the first floor and the disarray inside the affected shops.

“Yung money changer, nag-initial siya kanina mga P500,000 cash. And then yung jewelry shop, hindi pa ibinigay yung exact kasi ongoing pa yung investigation natin. May nakita kanina na jack tsaka mga log, mga kahoy na pinatungan lang doon sa entry ng flooring," Razalan said. 

Razalan added that the identities of the perpetrators will be disclosed after he gets to review the CCTV footages.  

"Ipapa-enhance natin yung mga CCTV footage para ma-determine natin kung saan talaga sila dito pumasok and yung mga personality nila," Razalan said. 

The mall remains closed to the public, as of this writing.

The robbers gained entry reportedly through a manhole and proceeded to destroy the tiled floor of a body massage and wellness establishment. 

According to Police Captain Ritz Field Presquito, chief of Pavia Municipal Police Station, the security guard reported to the police past 6 a.m. that footsteps were heard inside the establishment at about 5:30 a.m. and that the ceiling on the first floor was destroyed, near a pawnshop.

Razalan and members of the Special Weapons and Tactic (SWAT) team arrived at the scene for further investigation.

Employees had to wait outside of the mall for further instructions.

Furthermore, the authorities said that the group may have been connected with the ransack of a supermart in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro District in August 2024.

"Ito yung papasok sa imburnal then gagamit ng mga jack then iaangat ang flooring, then yung opening at doon na sila papasok. Meron na tayong pwede nating ipa-enhance at kinuha na ng SOCO kanina for enhancing para makuha ang itsura," Razalan added. 

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to seek a statement from the mall management but no one is available yet, according to the guard. However, based on their official announcement, they heeded the police in managing the situation, assuring that the mall premises are safe. 

The ransacked shops have not issued statements yet, as of posting time. 

RV John Matullano, a mallgoer, is one of several shoppers affected by the incident. Matullano is from Maasin, Iloilo and was set to process documents at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). 

"Ngayong araw na, wala pa rin. Perwisyo talaga. Mamaya uuwi na lang ako," an upset Matullano said. 

(with reports from Kim Salinas/GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas)