Police appeal for public cooperation in hunt for security guard

The Marikina City police appealed to the public yesterday for cooperation in their massive manhunt for a security guard who helped robbed a Metrobank branch last May 2.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Marikina City police chief, said they are also recommending before the Directorate for Intelligence (DI) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) the allocation of a cash reward for the speedy arrest of Benboy Penaloga, 29.

Rojas released the picture of Penaloga to the media yesterday hoping that it would help in tracing the whereabouts of the security guard who went into hiding after the P3.5 million bank heist.

"We are appealing to the public to report to us any information on the whereabouts Penaloga," said Rojas. "We are releasing his picture so he could be identified immediately."

He said Director Robert Delfin, DI chief, would deliberate on their recommendationto release the maximum P50,000 reward.

"We strongly believe that the reward money would encourage informants to cooperate fully with us. We are working with the DI for the release of the fund," said Rojas, adding that he is also encouraging Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando to put up a separate cash reward.

The Commondore Security Agency which hired Penaloga is fully cooperating with them.

"They are conducting their own investigation," he said.

Rojas disclosed that records of the security agency showed that Penaloga listed his address in Tondo, Manila which turned out to be non existent.

"All the while, he showed bad faith when he applied as a security guard. He had bad intentions from the start," said Rojas.

Rojas said they also interviewed Penaloga’s girlfriend who claimed that he identified himself to her as a policeman assigned in Camp Crame. "He (Penaloga) has not made contact with her since the May 2 heist," said the Marikina City police chief.

Penaloga, a native of Agusan del Sur, led four others in robbing the Metrobank branch in Sumulong Highway in Barangay Sto. Niño.