Fact-finding body to probe Greenbelt 5 heist

Metro Manila police on Monday formed a fact-finding committee that will look into Sunday’s brazen noon-time robbery attempt in a Rolex watch outlet inside Greenbelt 5, one of Makati City’s posh shopping malls. The committee will particularly look into how the suspects managed to go past the mall’s security guards and how the robbery was carried out without any call for police assistance, according to Director Roberto Rosales, head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). “The objective of the committee is to find out how the robbery was committed and to asses the response of the mall security and the local police," Rosales said in a statement. Rosales said he had already ordered the Southern Police District (SPD) and the Makati City police to scrutinize the footage from the closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at Greenbelt 5 to find out how the suspects managed to enter and exit the mall. Ayala Land, the developer of the mall, had earlier said that the suspects had posed as policemen and overpowered the security guards. This was confirmed by SPD chief Director Jaime Calungsod, who said the suspects were wearing black bomb squad uniforms and carrying high-powered firearms. The robbers were able to cart away about P3 to P4 million worth of “cheap" Tudor watches, according to Calungsod. He said no Rolex watches were stolen as the suspects engaged in a firefight with members of the security detail of Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, who was at the mall during the incident. The shootout resulted to the death of one still unidentified suspect.

Click on the video to watch the CCTV footage of the Rolex store robbery Fake cops In the light of the incident, Rosales said the use of SWAT and fatigue uniforms has been suspended as he warned the public against robbers posing as policemen. He said police athletic uniforms are only used during Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. while patrol uniforms can be worn on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, by members of mobile patrol unit. He said that cops are only allowed to inspect any establishments or respond to any report of an incident if they are wearing the proper uniform and are riding in a marked mobile patrol vehicle. Should security officials and administrators of banks, malls, and other business establishments encounter those who identify themselves as policemen, soldiers, or law enforcers, these should not be allowed entry “if they are not accompanied by a marked police car have not established the proper identity and authority of those who seek entry in their premises." To report incidences of suspicious men posing as men in uniform, contact the NCRPO’s hotlines: 838-3354, 838-3203 and 838-5593. Makati malls still safe Despite the incident, Ayala Land guaranteed the public that its malls are safe. “Ayala Malls officials assure the public that security measures continue to be in place for the safety of customers." Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said he had just conducted an emergency meeting with Ayala officials, Makati barangay officials, and members of the Makati police to evaluate and strengthen their security measures. “Whatever shortcomings were seen are being addressed, and this becomes more urgent as we enter the Christmas season. Makati will always be a safe place and we have agreed on measures that we need to implement to keep our residents, investors, and visitors safe," Binay said in a statement. Those in the meeting agreed to strengthen their coordination and response actions in crime incidents, Binay said. - GMANews.TV