Raps filed vs 4 carnapping suspects

THE City Prosecution Office (CPO) formally charged four men believed to be members of the notorious "Baktin Carnapping Group," whose warehouse of carnapped vehicles in Davao City was raided by authorities Monday night.

In a resolution, Prosecutor Victoriano Bello Jr. found probable cause to charge with carnapping Gerry Paulino, 30, of NHA Buhangin, Davao City; Diego Macatimbang, 19, of Sigaboy, Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental; Eddie Lopez, 19, of Balite, Marilog district, Davao City; and Hermie Tahom, 36, of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.

Bello recommended P180,000 bail each of the accused.

Court records showed that one John Macarse, the security officer of Sumifru Philippines Inc., noticed the security system of one of their vehicles located at Vincent Heights in Lanang, Davao City was flashing at around 2:49 a.m. on October 16.

He immediately contacted Sherwin Gabring, his co-security officer, who immediately proceeded to the house of Renante Castroverde to whom the vehicle was issued.

When Gabring arrived, he saw five men talking beside the parked gray Innova vehicle with plate number LHB 816.

He saw three of the men board the parked Innova while the two others rode a Silver Hyundai Tucson and left the area.

Gabring tried to chase the carnappers, but later decided to inform Macarse of the incident to track down the location of the vehicle, which is equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) device.

Castroverdo, on the other hand, reported the carnapping incident to Buhangin police through text messages.

At the same time, Senior Police Officer 3 Jeffry Grant Bangcas of the Davao City Police Office's Investigation and Detection Management Branch (DCPO-IDMB), along with elements of Buhangin Police, Highway Patrol Group and Sumifru employees proceeded to Tandag City where the carnapped Innova was traced and monitored.

Upon arrival, the group went to Camp Vicente Pimentel, Capitol Hills in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, where they found the carnapped vehicle parked at a basketball court at around 4 p.m.

The vehicle was identified by the complainant and other employees of Sumifru although Macarse noted that the license plate number of the vehicle was already changed.

In a press conference on Friday, dela Rosa said Tahom was the first suspect arrested in Tandag, Sutigao del Sur while driving the vehicle.

The car was tracked because of its GPS device.

Claiming he was only instructed by Ryan "Baktin" Yu, the alleged leader of the carnap gang, to drive the vehicle, Tahom led authorities to the residences of Lopez and Macatimbang. Paulino voluntarily surrendered after learning that his companions were already arrested.

Yu remains at large.

Meanwhile, a total of 14 vehicles were seized in a raid at a property believed to be owned by Yu at Sarphil Subdivision, Barangay Wilfredo Aquino, Agdao in Davao City on Monday.