THE Philippine National Police-Traffic Management Group (PNP-TMG) on Wednesday announced the arrest of five members of a carnapping syndicate operating in Metro Manila.
TMG Director Perfecto Palad identified the suspects as Allan Bautista, 35; Frederick Fune, 28; Mainrado Banaga, 49; Ulysses Maghanoy, 47; and Ronnie Taping, 33. He said the five have already been charged.
Palad said the suspects were arrested while selling a Toyota Fortuner at the covered parking lot of SM North Edsa in Quezon City last Monday night.
Prior to the arrest, TMG policemen belonging to Task Force Limbas received information from an informant about the plan of the suspects to sell a stolen vehicle -- the Toyota Fortuner vehicle bearing license plate ZMK-107.
“Upon verification with the TMG-VIMS (Vehicle Information Management System), the Fortuner’s chassis number and engine numbers are included in the TMG’s List of Wanted/Stolen Motor Vehicles,” a TMG statement said.
Task Force Limbas chief Antonio Gardiola immediately ordered the creation of a team to work on the information. A TMG policeman, George Vasquez, contacted the suspects and acted as the poseur buyer.
The suspects agreed and set initially the sale at a Shell Station at North Luzon Expressway. They changed the venue three times until they settled for SM City Cyberzone at 3rd Floor Level Parking at 9:30 p.m. Monday.
“Unknown to the suspects, TMG operatives earlier deployed to the same area spotted the Toyota Fortuner with two men on board, roaming Bago Bantay, Quezon City near SM,” the statement read.
At 10 p.m., the Toyota Fortuner with the two suspects on board stopped at the parking lot. Moments later, three men aboard a Mitsubishi Adventure vehicle also arrived and engaged in a conversation with those inside the Fortuner.
At that juncture, the policemen announced the arrest of the suspects.
The Toyota Fortuner -- with the original plate number ZKK-580 and owned by Rosette Trajano -- was stolen by suspects aboard a Green Toyota Corolla on April 15 in Mabolo, Valenzuela City.
The vehicles seized from the suspects were impounded for further investigation.
“We are looking into the possibility that the suspects are members of the syndicate that steal Toyota Fortuners, falsify its registration documents and sell it. Just like the Toyota Fortuners and vehicles of the same type which we were able to recover from the Visayas and Mindanao,” said Palad.
Meanwhile, TMG policemen intercepted a Toyota Fortuner with license plate YET-161 along Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay for no current Land Transportation Office (LTO) sticker. The vehicle was driven by certain Ruth Areza.
“When brought for investigation, it was found out that the chassis number were cut and welded. The number series of the new chassis welded belong to a Toyota Hi-Lux,” the TMG statement also said.
Areza, a businesswoman, told the police that she bought the vehicle through financing RCBC in Cagayan de Oro City. The vehicle was originally bought through PCI Equitable financing by certain Vincent Buenaventura, “who obviously defaulted payment and sold it and found its way to RCBC Cagayan de Oro.” (VR/Sunnex)
