Cops name 4 mall heist suspects

MANILA, Philippines - At least 120 policemen searched Maharlika Village, Taguig City yesterday for four men after they were named as suspects in the robbery at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City on Jan. 26.

Police said the suspects were able to escape the police dragnet that was set up at around 5:30 a.m. The targets of the raid were Crisolito Unito, Alex Damalen, Nasrudin Andal and Tho Mangulamas.

“We had information that the suspects were there. Rest assured that our efforts to locate them continue,” Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte said.

The identities of the four suspects cropped up after Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel revealed that their initial set of suspects were actually in jail at the time of the robbery.

Laurel confirmed that Ben Panday, Mark Calama and Basir Basilon are indeed detained at the Manila City Jail. – Mike Frialde, Non Alquitran