Army reservist linked to QC jewelry heist

MANILA, Philippines - A Philippine Army reservist has been tagged in the heist at two jewelry stores at SM North Edsa mall last year.

Dexter Balane, who reportedly holds the rank of captain, was among those charged with robbery before the prosecutor’s office for the Dec. 16, 2013 heist, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano.

According to Albano, they also included Dulie Jui-Esmola and Romeo Buluran in the charge sheet, filed Wednesday, after they were identified by two witnesses. He added that four other persons involved in the robbery remain unidentified.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), said jewelry worth P1.4 million were taken by seven men from the display cabinets of F and C Jewels and The Jeweller at the mall’s department store.

Marcelo said they got their leads on Balane’s possible involvement through sources in the intelligence community.

Inspector Alan dela Cruz, head of the theft and robbery investigation section of the QCPD-CIDU, said Balane was identified by a salesperson as the one who allegedly pretended to be a customer wanting to buy a ring and a bracelet.

Dela Cruz said another salesperson saw Balane scooping up the jewelry from the display cases after two other men smashed the glass with a hammer and a crowbar, bought from a hardware store in the mall.

Marcelo said the witness “burst into tears” upon being shown Balane’s photograph. He said the same witness and another salesperson tagged Jui-Esmola and Buluran as the ones who smashed the glass display cases.

Police officials also believe that Balane may also be the one who posed as a customer inquiring about jewelry at SM Megamall last year minutes before men smashed the display cases of F and C Jewels and The Jeweller at Megamall. However, Balane was not among those charged in the Megamall robbery.