Monday, November 05, 2007 Cops arrest 6 suspected car thieves in Mabalacat By Reynaldo G. Navales
MABALACAT -- Joint elements of this town's police, Traffic Management Group (TMG), Provincial Intelligence Branch (S2), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) apprehended Friday some six persons suspected of carnapping a passenger jeepney in Baguio City on All Saints’ Day.
Arrested were: Johnny Comila Batiil, 20, of Benguet; Angel Palayugen Annoyan, 26, of Baguio City; Jonie Abril Cabuso, 29, of Villa Rivera, Barangay Mabiga, this town; Dario Domogan Pangilinan, 19, of Baguio City; Ronald Alan Kitoyan Rivera Jr., 19, of Baguio City; and Kiston Sacpa Balangcod, 26, of Benguet.
Chief Inspector Jovencio Flores, town police officer-in-charge, said the suspects were arrested at the Rivera's compound in Barangay Mabiga here in the act of dismantling parts of the stolen vehicle, an Isuzu passenger jeepney with license plate AYM 755.
Two other suspects -- a certain Albert and a John Doe -- managed to elude arrest during the police operation, according to Flores.
Intelligence operative Police Officer Rodolfo Agustin said the recovered vehicle was brought to the Regional Crime Laboratory in Camp Olivas for possible macro etching of its chassis and engine number.
Agustin said the carnapped vehicle is owned by one Jackson Atitio, of Number 3, Kilometer 3, Parapad, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Flores said the group, reportedly led by Cabuso, is also being suspected for another carnapping case last October 30, also in Baguio City.
"Ayon sa information na nakuha natin dito rin sa area dinala yung una nilang kinarnap na jeepney. At yun ang inaalam sa ngayon para ma-recover din natin yung sasakyan," Flores said.
Charges of carnapping are now prepared against the suspects who are temporarily detained at the Mabalacat Police Station as of Saturday.
