|
Monday, August 22, 2005
Politicians behind carnapping?
KORONADAL CITY -- Traffic police authorities accused some local politicians as alleged protectors of a big time carnapping syndicate operating in the region that was tagged over the resurging carnapping activities in the area over the last few weeks.
Superintendent Francisco Camorongan, Traffic Management Group (TMG)-Region 12 director, said a warehouse owned by a local official, which he did not name pending their ongoing operations, is allegedly being used by a syndicate as storage facility for vehicles carnapped in South Cotabato and nearby General Santos City.
"It was in the warehouse where the repainting and the changing of the carnapped vehicles' chassis number were done," Camorongan told a radio station here.
He did not give further details on the location of the supposed warehouse but cited that it was "located somewhere near this city."
According to TMG's records, carnapping cases here and nearby areas increased over the last few weeks averaging by at least three to four cases every week.
In this city, an Isuzu Crosswind van and three motorcycles were seized by carnappers over the weekend.
Based on their monitoring, Camorongan said the stolen vehicles underwent a facelift at the warehouse before they were sold to buyers coming from as far as the Northern Mindanao areas.
He said brand-new carnapped motorcycles reportedly fetch for as low as P10,000 while the four-wheeled vehicles are sold for P50,000 to P100,000, depending on the model.
"From the warehouse, the carnapped vehicles were brought to Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat areas where the negotiations with their buyers were made," he said.
Camorongan said their operations are currently focused on South Cotabato and General Santos City.
"We have already identified these groups and so far we can say that they really have strong backers that are equipped with high-powered forearms," he said.
He added that aside from politicians, the carnapping syndicate operating in the area is being allegedly backed by a supposed "lost command" of a Moro rebel group. (Allen V. Estabillo)
For Bisaya stories from General Santos.Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(August 22, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
