DAVAO CITY – Police in Davao City have launched a manhunt after a gang of armed robbers carried out a daring daylight heist at a pawnshop on Wednesday morning.

At least three suspects stormed Hannah’s Pawnshop and Jewelry on Ilustre Street in downtown Davao, making off with jewelry valued between ₱40 million and ₱100 million, according to the pawnshop’s legal counsel, Atty. Miguel Palma Gil.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Col. Hansel Marantan confirmed that one suspect had been arrested while several others remain at large. Officers recovered an M-16 rifle, a 9mm pistol, ammunition, and a defective black Honda TMX 125 motorcycle believed to have been used in the escape.

The arrested suspect has been identified as Jonny Bulawan, a resident of Albuera, Leyte, who was apprehended at Bankerohan Public Market.

Images shared on social media showed at least three gunmen inside the pawnshop before fleeing on a motorcycle. However, police suspect the group is larger.

“We are still reviewing CCTV footage, but we believe there could be more than four or five suspects involved,” Marantan said.

DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero Tuazon added that investigators are considering the possibility that additional suspects acted as lookouts during the heist.

Eyewitnesses described the robbery as swift and terrifying, with armed men forcing their way into the shop. Pawnshop employees, still visibly shaken, were escorted to the San Pedro Police Station to assist in identifying the suspect and verifying the recovered items.

Given the well-planned nature of the crime, police suspect the robbery was carried out by a “large, organized group” and have launched a hot-pursuit operation to track down the remaining perpetrators. Meanwhile, security in Davao City’s business districts has been tightened to prevent similar incidents.

Authorities continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and analyze surveillance footage to identify all individuals involved in the heist.

📷 Davao City Police Office