Police looking at inside job on Robinsons robbery

MANILA, Philippines – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Friday that they were looking into the possibility that the robbery in Robinsons Galleria Thursday was an inside job.

“Practically that’s one angle we’re looking into . . . we’re looking at all possibilities, all links that might lead to that,” QCPD Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega said, adding that it is possible that the suspects may have gained entry into the mall by allegedly conniving with either the mall guard or one of the escorts of the bank teller who was supposed to deliver an undetermined amount of cash to Sanrys Money Changer.

He said authorities also requested an explanation from the security manager of Robinsons Galleria as to how three of the six suspects were able to pass through the mall guards with their firearms.

“The fact that the suspects were able to enter the mall indicates lapses in security,” Dela Vega said.

Security escort Rodrigo Villa was killed, and six others – Security Bank roving teller Vincent Mangatura and his other escort Roderick Reloso, bystanders Leah Del Mundo, Jeremy Rabe, Paul Adrian and Johanssen Dionisio – were hurt when the armed men fired inside and outside the mall and even lobbed a grenade into the crowd that exploded.