By MARTIN SADONGDONG
Police have released the computerized facial composite of one of four robbery suspects who barged into a 113-room hotel in Pasay City and walked away with R4 million worth of cash and valuables.
With the help of Jho-an Jaba-gat and closed circuit television footages, the hotel’s 30-year-old security guard, police yesterday completed the sketch that could help authorities identify him.
Jabagat said he vividly remembered the features of the suspect’s face, the same man who disarmed and pushed him inside the hotel lobby.
Contrary to earlier reports, the hotel vault was not found and only the hotel’s R53,000 daily earnings at the cash register were stolen.
Police recovered P500,000 inside the vault.
Most of the cash and valuables were taken from hotel guests, according to Jabagat who is employed by the Blue Flame Security Agency.
“Natakot po. Naisip ko ‘yung mga anak ko na maliliit pa. Akala ko katapusan ko na,” said the lone on-duty security guard who thought of his two children, aged 7 and 1.
Jabagat has been working at the Mabuhay Manor Hotel for seven years now.
Senior Police Officer 2 Dennis Desalisa, one of the lead investigators, said they will coordinate with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) if the composite sketch will match those in its records.
“Kung meron, positive development iyon at pwede natin malaman ang identity niya and hopefully, ‘yung mga kasama niya,” Desalisa said.
Meanwhile, Southern Police District (SPD) director, Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario Jr. said the management of the hotel “may have committed security lapses.”
“We held a closed door meeting para masilip kung ano ang flaws na makita namin and to recommend kung paano ma-upgrade ang security requirements nila. Sa usapan namin with the management, mukhang kulang ‘yung kanilang security guard. At the same time, short firearms lang ang security guard at kulang sa bala pero siyempre kino-consider din namin na nabigla talaga sila dahil unholy hour ‘yun – alas-tres ng madaling-araw,” Apolinario told reporters.
On Tuesday night, PNP Chief General Ronald dela Rosa and National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar Albayalde also checked the Mabuhay Manor Hotel.
Apolinario added that they would be coordinating with the Philippine National Police’s Supervisory Office on Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) to determine whether the security and hotel management are liable for damages.
Police are still eyeing an inside job as a possible motive behind the incident since the the robbery attack happened coincidentally when the hotel management wasn’t able to remit the hotel earnings during the holiday season.
Meanwhile, James “JB” Lising, the hotel’s general manager, assured their complete cooperation
Aside from Jabagat who was temporarily relieved from his duty, Lising said that all the other hotel officers who were on-duty when the four robbery suspects attacked already went back to work.
“Hindi naman po kami nag-stop ng operations so normal pa rin. ‘Yung isang officier lang na sinuntok at ;yung isang inuntog sa pader, pina-check natin pero nakabalik na sila sa trabaho,” Lising said.
The suspects are believed between 25 and 30 years old, according to the police.
The victims were identified as siblings Dominador Castro, 57, Roberto Castro, 50, and Josephine Tadoy, 54, and her husband Alex, 62; Rudy de Guzman, 48, night auditor of the hotel, Jay-ar Papa, 24, front desk clerk, and Jabagat.
