MANILA – One of the robbers killed in last Sunday’s shootout in a high-end mall in Makati City was a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), police said.

Police also discovered that suspect Armando Manangan Domingo, 32 of San Mariano, Isabela had a standing warrant of arrest for a murder case.

Domingo’s family in Isabela was in a state of shock when they heard the news. Family members could not believe that their kin was involved in a criminal group.

Authorities launched a manhunt operation against the suspects behind the Rolex Store robbery at the Greenbelt 5. The robbers reportedly carted away 64 pieces of expensive watches estimated to worth P6 million.

SOP lapses
As this developed, security guards deployed on the ground floor of mall were temporarily replaced pending investigation of the incident. The guards allegedly failed to coordinate with the police during the incident.

“As claimed by the police, wala silang natanggap na tawag. Ano naman ang SOP kapag pumutok? Dapat bang i-block lahat ang exit and entry points? Dapat ba na mayroon silang blocking force na magiipon-ipon ng mga gwardiya sa isang lugar para to organize themselves tapos put up a resistance,” said Director Roberto Rosales, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

On Tuesday, NCRPO public information officer, Police Superintendent Rommel Miranda, maintained the guards should have coordinated immediately with the local police.

“Una po wala namang call for a bomb squad. So they have to find it strange na mayroong bomb squad doon. They should have coordinated with the local police,” Miranda said, adding that a police unit deployed in a nearby hotel could have quickly responded to the scene.

Former Philippine National Police Chief Edgar Aglipay admitted lapses on the part of their security guards. Aglipay is the owner of the Emirates Security Agency.

“Siguro, hindi nga nakipag-coordinate yung Ayala security at saka kami sa pulis. Yun ang lapse namin doon,” Aglipay said.

The NCRPO public information officer said that Aglipay’s security agency could also face serious sanctions.
 
“Kung mapapatunayan po na mayroon silang pagkukulang even po sa internal procedures po nila, then we have to recommend for the revocation of their licenses,” Miranda said.

Police are now looking for another suspect believed to be wounded in the incident.

“Based doon sa nilapagan ng mga holdaper sa may Lapu-lapu Street, may napansin po doon yung witness na mayroong may tama ng bala sa binti,” said Chief Inspector Dennis Macalintal of the Makati City Police.

Meanwhile, the Honda City with license plate number WKM 262, which the suspects used as their getaway vehicle, was traced to a businessman named Ting Hok. However, police found out that the vehicle was already sold through an open deed of sale. Henry Omaga-Diaz ABS-CBN News with Bandila