NCRPO probes guards in QC mall heist

MANILA, Philippines - Investigators are looking into the backgrounds of security guards to determine if they are the “insiders” of a robbery gang whose members staged a P14-million heist at a moneychanger shop in Robinson’s Galleria in Quezon City last March 29.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima said they are coordinating with the police units in Camp Crame in charge of security agencies to help them identify the Ozamis Gang insiders.

“Like in previous big-time robbery cases, it is the security guards who are giving advance information to the robbery gang about the amount of money inside the establishments,” said Purisima, noting that the “tipsters” are usually given a share of the loot.

Two of the suspects in the Galleria heist – Willy Enriquez and Ireneo dela Cruz – were arrested by Quezon City police officers in Iloilo two weeks ago.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega said Enriquez was identified by security guard Roderick Relocio as among the six men who intercepted the P14 million intended for Sanry’s moneychanger shop at the basement of the Robinson’s Galleria last March 29.

De la Vega said the bullets recovered at the Galleria heist bore the same marks as the ones recovered at the foiled armored van robbery at the Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City last Feb. 10.

Bullets with the same marks were also recovered from shootings in Cagayan de Oro City and Lapu-lapu City in 2011; and a robbery at a remittance outlet in San Pedro, Laguna, also last year.

Purisima said they want to know the names of the security guards assigned in the establishments robbed by the Ozamis Gang recently. “The most likely candidates are provincemates of the Ozamis robbery gang,” he said.