P300,000 reward up for Megamall robbery suspects

Authorities are offering a P300,000 reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects in last month's brazen robbery inside SM Megamall. Superintendent Leonardo Espina, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), said Tuesday that a case of robbery has already been filed against the suspects, identified as Tho Mangulamas, Nasrudin Andal, and Alex Dimalen. "Si Tho Mangulamas ang leader sa pagnanakaw sa Megamall. Si Nasrudin Andal ang nagpaputok ng baril para magkagulo ang mga tao. Si Alex Dimalen ang bumili nung wrench," Espina said at a briefing in Mandaluyong. Three other suspects remained unidentified. "Under operation pa," Espina said when asked about the three unidentified suspects. The suspects were able to cart away expensive pieces of jewelry from two stores inside the department store of SM Megamall last January 26. From the F&C Jewelry, the robbers took away 10 Saudi Gold rings, 21 earrings, a bracelet and 17 Saudi Gold chains, with a total value of P743,961. On the other hand, 71 Saudi Gold necklaces, 52 Saudi Gold pendants and four Saudi Gold men's rings were taken from the The Jeweler store. Espina said the P300,000 reward money — sourced from the Philippine National Police's civil relations group — will be given for information that will lead to the arrest of each suspect. "May lead na kami, pero malaki kung makakatulong ang mga tao," he said. Tho Mangulamas Gang Espina said the suspects of the robbery may have been part of the "Tho Mangulamas Gang." Mangulamas is also among the suspects of the August 16, 2012 robbery at the Tambunting Pawnshop inside Metro Point Mall in Pasay City. "Nakilala [ang grupo] kasi ang dalawang fire bullets [ng caliber .45] recovered [mula sa SM Megamall robbery] matched the cartridge from the Tambunting Pawnshop [robbery] last year," Espina said. Police said information of the suspects' whereabouts can be reported to the hotline numbers 6410266, 09189385871, 09173204444, and 5023672. — KBK, GMA News