Suspect in bloody mall robbery falls in Iloilo raid

MANILA, Philippines—Authorities arrested Monday evening a suspect allegedly involved in the robbery at the Robinson’s Galleria last March 29, a Philippine National Police spokesman said Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that Quezon City Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), along with Iloilo Police and Intel Operatives of Region 6, raided the “safe house” of the suspects in Lemery, Iloilo around 8 p.m. and nabbed Willy Enriquez, 45, and another man who was with the gang member.

The spokesman said Enriquez yielded a caliber .45 pistol with serial number 548237 loaded with eight live ammunition. A caliber .38 revolver with defaced serial number loaded with four live ammunition was, on the other hand, was recovered from de la Cruz.

Meanwhile, a report from Radyo Inquirer 990AM quoted Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, chief of the Quezon City CIDU, as saying that Enriquez was positively identified by their witnesses, adding that police records show that Enriquez has also been involved in a robbery case in the past.

Marcelo said Enriquez was spotted in the province with two others, days after the robbery.

Security escort Rodrigo Villa was killed and six others were wounded in the incident. Six suspects—three who went inside the mall to rob the money that was to be delivered to Sanrys Money Changer on the ground floor of the mall, and three others on a motorcycle, waiting for their henchmen outside the mall.

One of the suspects outside the mall also lobbed two grenades.