Suspect in Cavite mall heist nabbed

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna-—One of the three suspects in the P5-million heist inside a mall over two weeks ago that left a bank teller and two security guards dead was arrested in Dasmariñas City, Cavite over the weekend, the police said  Monday.

The suspect, Antonio Loreto, 50, was arrested in a joint operation of the Cavite police and members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at the suspect’s residence in Barangay Victoria Reyes 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The suspect’s son, Andy, who was also tagged in the robbery, however escaped.

Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao, Cavite police director, in an e-mailed report, said the Loretos were identified through footages from the CCTV cameras of the Robinson’s Place in Barangay Pala-pala, also in the city.

The two, and another man whose identity was withheld, were suspects in the robbery and killing of bank teller Ray Tingco and Tingco’s security escort, guards Felipe Cipres and Melu Quinabandal on October 29.

Police said the victims lost the P5-million cash they were supposed to bring to the JMY money changer, also inside the mall.

Loreto was brought to the NBI in Manila, where the complaint was first filed, Supt. Ulysses Cruz, Dasmariñas City police chief, said by phone.

He said manhunt operations continued to track down Andy and the other suspect.

The Robinson’s mall had reportedly changed its security agency after the robbery.