1 dead, 6 hurt in Ortigas robbery

MANILA, Philippines - Armed men killed a security guard and wounded six others after a daring daytime robbery yesterday morning at the Robinsons Galleria shopping mall in Ortigas Center, Quezon City.

At least six robbers took about P2 million in cash and fled on motorcycles as they hurled a grenade and fired at bystanders to cover their escape.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega said the robbery occurred at around 10 a.m. when the suspects intercepted several guards of Security Bank who were about to deliver cash to the Sanry’s Money Changer Shop at the side of the mall along Ortigas Avenue.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the suspects shot security guard Rodrigo Villa who died upon arrival at a nearby hospital.

He said the injured victims were identified as Roderick Relucio, another guard of Security Bank; bystanders Joshua Toniza, Jeremy Rabe, Paul Sarmiento, and two other bank employees.

Rose Anne Villegas, head of public relations of Robinsons Land Corp., said that this was the first time that a robbery happened at Galleria since the mall opened in 1988.

Police investigators said the Security Bank guards and several employees had earlier delivered cash to another branch of Sanry’s Money Changer, also at Robinsons Galleria along EDSA.

De la Vega said the suspects apparently waited for bank personnel from their first cash delivery at the Sanry’s branch along EDSA until they were near the moneychanger’s second branch at the mall’s level 1 along Ortigas.

Before the bank personnel could reach the second Sanry branch, the robbers shot the victims and took the money.

Villegas said the incident happened so fast.

“They (suspects) zoomed in and zoomed out. Quick is not even enough to describe it,” Villegas told reporters.

Witnesses said at least six suspects staged the brazen attack.

A mall security guard said he saw a number of suspects coming out of the mall and carrying short firearms. He said he saw the suspects leave the mall premises on board three motorcycles.

A sidewalk vendor described one of the suspects as wearing a green shirt and shorts. She said the suspect was armed with a short firearm that apparently had a silencer attached to it. “The armed man continuously fired shots before a companion driving a motorcycle arrived and fetched him,” she said.

De la Vega said they have requested mall officials to submit to investigators the footage taken by closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras installed near the crime scene.

Villegas allayed fears about security at Robinsons Galleria.

“It’s a very safe mall. Everything was contained immediately,” Villegas said.

She noted that the response time of mall personnel and even the police was well within the prescribed 15 minute margin.

“We remain vigilant at all times,” Villegas added.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome ordered an investigation of the robbery to determine the lapses in the security setup in the area.

Bartolome directed National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Alan Purisima to supervise the probe under QCPD director De la Vega, who is also the head of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG).

A police source said the stolen money could amount to P2 million, since the first delivery was also worth P2 million.

Based on the CCTV footage shown to The STAR by a source, three of the suspects – one wearing a green shirt, another in a red shirt, and one in a yellow shirt – were seen hurriedly going out of the mall premises.

Bartolome said a review of the CCTV footage showed the robbery took about 4 to 5 minutes.

He said suspects hurled the grenade and fired at bystanders apparently to divert the attention of responding policemen.

Malacañang assured the public that the police is conducting an investigation of Robinsons Galleria robbery.

“The incident at Galleria is currently being investigated by the PNP,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

“We have spoken to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome. We have been receiving regular updates on the progress of the case. The PNP chief has assured us that the incident is being closely investigated and that a flash alarm has been sent to police monitoring units for the apprehension of the suspects,” she added. With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla