Cops seize 14 cars from carnap group’s bodega

DAVAO CITY -- Police seized Monday night 14 vehicles in a raid at a property believed to be owned by the carnapping syndicate of Ryan “Baktin” Yu in Sarphil Subdivision, Barangay Wilfredo Aquino, Agdao, this city.

Combined forces of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and Highway Patrol Group (HPG)-Davao conducted the raid around 6 p.m. in the “fenced and roofed” property following a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13.

DCPO director Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa and HPG chief Superintendent Gregorio Pimentel headed the conduct of the raid.

"Sa search warrant, 13 lang ka mga sakyanan ang naa sa sulod, pero among nakita dinhi ang 14 ka mga sakyanan (The search warrant stated 13 vehcles but we found 14 here)," dela Rosa said.

Of the 14, however, Pimentel said, only one so far is in their list.

"Toyota Avanza ang confirmed na (was the confirmed) carnapped vehicle," Pimentel said.

Recovered from the area were a Toyota Avanza with plate number FNL 367, Nissan Bentre with plate number KER 501, Toyota Vios with plate number JIL 33, two Nissan Navarra, a Toyota Hi-Lux, a Honda Civic, a Chevrolet Cruze, a Mitsubishi Strada, a Nissan Urvan, a Toyota Vios, a Nissan Bongo, and a Mitsubishi Lancer.

Senior Superintendent Gregorio Pimentel, HPG director, said some of the 14 vehicles in the compound are in their watchlist.

He said they will conduct further verification with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to identify the owners of the vehicles.

One vehicle owner, Ibrahim Buog, who lost a Toyota Hi-Lux last January 15 near Holy Cross of Agdao, confirmed that the plate number found disposed and cut into three pieces inside the compound was his vehicle’s plate.

It was not yet determined whether the Hilux found was owned by Buog, but dela Rosa said with the recovery of the plate number, the owner will have an easier time filing an insurance claim.

Dela Rosa said they will also conduct investigation on various car shops to determine if the vehicles sold to their various customers are stolen or not.

The police will also try to check the Bureau of Customs and the Davao International Airport, added dela Rosa.

The Ryan “Baktin” Yu carnapping syndicate has recently been the subject of manhunt by police authorities in Davao. Four of its members were nabbed last week in General Santos City, but its leader remains at large.

Dela Rosa earlier said that the group is a big syndicate responsible for several carnapping cases in Davao City. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)