(Eagle News) – The Manila Police District has already identified the suspects in the daring daylight Metrobank robbery in Binondo, Manila based on the CCTV footages obtained outside the bank.
Based on the released photos by the police, the suspects were identified as Marlon “Ailon” Parojinog, Noli Bonifacio Casuela alias “Lito Dapitan,” Michael Calunod alias “Pila”, Frederex B. Secretario, and Gilcar Dumagan Mofan alias “Jing Mofan.”
According to Manila Police District chief Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr, the suspects are connected to the Parohinog group of Ozamiz City.
The group is involved in “gun for hire”, illegal drugs, and robbery-hold-up activities. Marlon Parojinog who headed the group of bank robbers has a standing arrest warrant, along with another bank robbery suspect Jing Mofan. The sub-leader of the group was Casuela alias “Lito Dapitan”, the police said.
-Non-cooperation of Metrobank Binondo branch security men deplored-
The police managed to identify the suspects despite the non-cooperation of the Metrobank security officers in the Sto. Cristo Binondo branch who did not allow the investigating and responding policemen to enter the bank premises immediately after the daring bank robbery on July 11.
The bank robbery happened around 8:40 a.m. before the start of banking hours. Based on the CCTV footage outside the bank, the suspects were able to easily enter the bank through the front door, apparently being allowed from the inside.
Parojinog was the man wearing a “Grab” shirt as seen on the CCTV footage outside the bank. Casuela was the one wearing a helmet and was among those who first entered the bank. Calunod was the man wearing a blue shirt that had “foot printer” written at the back. Secretario was the man wearing a black shirt as seen on the CCTV footage.
Manila City mayor Isko Moreno earlier denounced the Metrobank Binondo branch for its refusal to initially cooperate with the policemen who responded just two minutes after the bank made a call on the bank robbery.
Moreno said it was suspicious how the Metrobank security officers refused to allow the cops inside the bank, citing a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) directive. They also told the police that the suspects had taken the CCTV camera inside the bank.
Police suspected that the evidence inside the bank were also tampered with as they were not able to immediately secure the crime scene.
“They don’t want to help initially. If the police investigators will find that they obstructed (justice), they are going to be held liable,” Moreno said. “Ayaw ko lang pangunahan.” Moreno earlier said.
-Moreno reiterates P1 million reward for suspects’ arrest –
The Manila mayor again repeated his offer of a P1 million reward for anyone who would provide information that would lead to the arrest of the bank robbers.
He said he would make sure that those behind the bank robbery would be put behind bars.
“You cannot escape the long arm of the law,” he said.
Moreno said that bank robbers were “very relaxed” when they entered and robbed the Metro Bank branch in Sto. Cristo in Binondo, Manila, at around 8:40 a.m. on Thursday, July 11.
“Chill na chill lang sila as if they know what they’re doing” Moreno said describing the actions of the robbers.
He said he suspected that this had been planned beforehand and that there was somebody backing this operation.
“I would assume pinagplanuhan ito. Tingin ko merong may hawak dito. (I would assume this was planned. I think there was someone handling this),” Moreno told reporters last week.
(With a report by Madelyn Villar Moratillo, Eagle News Service)
