Guard eyed in Pasig mall heist fails polygraph test

MANILA, Philippines - A security guard who acted “strangely” during a P550,000 robbery at the Robinson’s East mall in Pasig City on June 22 failed a polygraph test, an official said yesterday.

Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said the crime laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which conducted the polygraph test on Ronualdo Magno, 30, concluded that he was lying.

Laurel explained, however, that they cannot charge Magno for complicity in the robbery as the polygraph test is only a tool to determine whether a person is lying or not.

“We will conduct a background against Magno and determine his connections with the suspects and gather other evidence so we could charge him in court,” Laurel said in an interview.

Laurel said Magno voluntarily took the polygraph test last week and promised to make himself available for any follow-ups. However, Corporate Protection Services Philippines Inc. (Corpsphil), the security agency to which Magno belongs has reportedly reassigned him to Nueva Ecija.

A police investigator said they are also looking into reports that Magno is known to one of the robbers.

Magno was assigned to secure the side entrance of the Robinson’s East mall and was caught on surveillance camera not frisking those going into the mall just before the robbery.

Before shots rang out, Magno was seen opening the double doors at his post. When four robbers ran out, he said he ducked for cover in a parked delivery van.

Police investigators said three security guards who tried to stop the robbers were shot but Magno was spared.

In his defense, Magno claimed he fully opened the double doors of the mall to allow baggers Marvin Pozon and Anthony David to pass with pushcarts, but police said the surveillance footage showed others. He initially thought of engaging the robbers in a shootout, but refrained for fear of hitting bystanders.

Meanwhile, retired police general Ike Galang denied reports that he is one of Corpsphil’s owners, saying his office is adjacent to the security agency’s office in Cubao, Quezon City.