QC mall heist suspect tagged in Binay kin's slay

MANILA, Philippines - One of two men arrested for the P14-million heist at the Robinson’s Galleria mall in Quezon City was identified by witnesses as the man who reportedly shot dead a relative of Vice President Jejomar Binay on March 28, 2011, police said yesterday.

Witnesses Benedicto Bermundo Jr. and Ernesto de Guzman identified Ireneo de la Cruz, 46, alias Bruno, a farmer from Poblacion Ilaya in Sara, Iloilo as the man who allegedly killed Rufino Binay during a robbery in San Pedro, Laguna.

Binay is reportedly a cousin of the Vice President, and officials said personnel from the Vice President’s office have been following up on the case.

“The two witnesses are neighbors of Binay and they identified De la Cruz as the one who shot the victim,” Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said. The witnesses picked De la Cruz from a police lineup at the headquarters of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) in Camp Karingal Thursday.

Cruz said it was when the video footage of the Galleria heist suspects was shown during a television newscast that Bermudo and De Guzman identified De la Cruz as the gunman.

He has ordered Superintendent Kirby John Kraft, San Pedro police chief, to file robbery with homicide charges against De la Cruz.

Cruz said Binay was cutting the grass in front of his house in Barangay San Antonio when De la Cruz and a companion drove up on a blue motorcycle and robbed Binay of his gold necklace, bracelet and wristwatch. The victim resisted and one of the suspects shot him.

Binay was declared dead on arrival at the Divine Mercy Hospital from gunshot wounds in the head and body.

De la Cruz, Willy Enriquez and four others allegedly robbed the Sanry moneychanger shop at the basement of Galleria on March 29.

Security Bank officials said they lost P14 million to the suspects, who killed security guard Rodrigo Villa and wounded his companion Roderick Relosio and four others – Josua Toniza, Jeremy Rabe, Paul Adrian Sarmiento, and Lea del Mundo.

Enriquez and De la Cruz were arrested Monday by the men of QCPD director Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega in Ajuy, Iloilo while allegedly preparing to escape to Bacolod City.