EPD to probe Pasig mall guard

Manila, Philippines -  The Eastern Police District (EPD) will invite for questioning a security guard of the Robinson’s East Mall in Pasig City for acting “strangely” during the P550,000 heist last June 22.

EPD director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said Ronualdo Magno, of the Corporate Protection Service Inc. security agency, has some explaining to do for committing several violations while assigned to guard the mall’s back door.

He directed Superintendent Remus Medina, EPD intelligence chief, to coordinate with mall management to have Magno investigated to determine whether he has “something to do with the heist.”

The EPD director pointed out though, that Magno is not yet a suspect in the case, as “we have no goods against him as of now.”

Prior to the robbery, the double doors where Magno was posted had been half open. Medina noticed that Magno walked aimlessly in the vicinity of the door, not frisking those who entered the mall.

Before the first shot was fired, Magno opened both panels of the double doors, which is a violation of the agreement arrived at with the Joint Anti-Bank Robbery Council. “In the said agreement, the door would only be opened wide once there is an ongoing shootout to (prevent) shoppers from being taken hostage,” Medina pointed out.

While shots were fired in the mall, Magno disappeared from his post as the robbers ran out.

Magno denied involvement in the robbery when he was interviewed by investigators.