4 policewomen to get award for mall heist response

MANILA, Philippines - The four rookie policewomen who responded “within seconds” to the jewelry store burglary at the SM Mall of Asia were assigned to the police assistance desk at MOA just three days before the attack.

Despite being unfamiliar with their new post, Police Officers 1 Juliet Macababad, Lilia Langpawin, Marcelina Bantiag, and Maricel Rueco did not hesitate to risk their lives and go after the robbers, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)  chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said yesterday.

They waited for the robbers to get out and traded shots with them.

Valmoria said commendation will be given to the four brave policewomen on Monday at the NCRPO headquarters in Bicutan, Taguig.

Ban baseball caps

The NCRPO head called on mall operators to seriously consider their suggestion to ban the wearing of baseball caps and hats inside malls.

Valmoria noted that at least four of the five suspects who robbed a jewelry store at MOA last Sunday were wearing caps apparently to hide their faces and prevent easy identification.

Despite a clear shot of the suspects of the mall’s closed-circuit television cameras, police investigators encountered a hard time identifying them as they wore caps.

According to Valmoria, only people with “criminal minds” are benefiting from the non-imposition of the ban on the wearing of caps inside malls.

“Mall goers can take off their caps while inside the malls, and they could use it again once they get out,” he said. “The mall owners and clients would be helping us a lot in solving the series of robberies on jewelry stores inside malls if they implement the ban.”

The ban on wearing of caps inside malls was suggested by Valmoria after the “Martilyo Gang” struck SM North EDSA in 2013.  The proposal drew criticisms from netizens on social media.

With the faces of mall goers uncovered, Valmoria said suspected criminals would be easily identified.  – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran