Evidence cross-matching eyed to solve mall heist

MANILA, Philippines - Police investigators will cross-match the recovered bullets, slugs and empty shells from a caliber .45 pistol used in the heist at the Robinson’s East mall in Pasig City with other robbery incidents in Metro Manila in an effort to identify and charge the suspects.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said that once the recovered evidence in the Robinson’s robbery matched those retrieved from other incidents, there is a big possibility that the same group perpetrated the crime.

“There are reports that robbery groups are loaning their firearms to other criminal groups. But once the evidence matches, it would be easy for us to identify the suspects and charge them in court,” said Laurel in an interview.

EPD scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) recovered 11 empty shells, two live bullets, two deformed slugs and four magazines for caliber .45 automatic pistol at the crime scene.

Earlier, Laurel sought the help of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in enhancing the images of four of the six suspects caught in the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system of the mall.

“We will make the job a priority. Just give us a few days,” said Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, head of the CIDG’s anti-transnational crime and cyber division.

Superintendent Remus Medina, EPD intelligence chief, said that Willy Enriquez and Ireneo de la Cruz, the two prime suspects in the P14 million money-changer shop robbery at the Robinson’s Galleria last March 29 were tracked down through evidence cross-matching.

The PNP crime laboratory said that the bullets of the caliber .45 pistol of Enriquez was also used not only in the foiled bank robbery at the Town Center in Muntinlupa City last Feb. 10 but also in the shooting incident at the Appovel Subdivision, in Cagayan de Oro City on Aug. 18, 2011; the holdup at the Western Union Money Transfer in San Pedro, Laguna on July 9, 2011; and the shooting incident at Highway Babag 11 in Lapu-Lapu City last June 9.

Inside job denied

Meanwhile, lawyer Jason Villanueva, vice president and head of the legal service group of Robinson’s bank, vehemently denied insinuations that bank officials and employees “helped the robbers.”

“Being an institution vested with a public trust and in a business wherein client confidence is paramount, the above statements that Robinson’s bank officer or employee is possibly involved in the robbery incident can cause severe damage to our business reputation and lead to the loss of trust and confidence for our clients and the general public,” said Villanueva in his letter to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

Villanueva pointed out that the bank would never condone any criminal act as he vowed to file charges against their employees if evidence warrants.