TWO suspected carnappers were arrested in a follow-up operation by operatives of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) at Purok Kamansi, Barangay Banago, Bacolod City Tuesday morning.
Police identified the suspects as Primitivo Legaspino III, 26, of Purok Cereza North, Barangay 3; and Roberto Lo, 34, of Purok Lubi, Barangay 3.
Supt. Jefferson Descallar, head of SOG, said at around 9 a.m. they received a call from complainant retired Chief Insp. Estrella Villafuerte, formerly assigned at Provincial Internal Affairs Service of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, that her carnapped vehicle was seen along Barangay Banago.
Villafuerte’s Mitsubishi Lancer with plate number PGK 323 was reported carnapped while parked outside SM City Bacolod on October 21, 2013.
Descallar said they recovered the vehicle from a machine shop at Purok Kamansi. The two suspects who were seen in the shop were arrested, he said.
He added that the suspects denied that they brought the vehicle to the shop, but they were positively identified by the machine shop owner.
Police recovered from the possession of the suspects a homemade firearm or “sulpak” with two live ammunition of 12-gauge shotgun, a homemade .38 caliber with three live ammunition, two small plastic sachets of suspected shabu, and an improvised tooter.
The police believe the suspects and their companions were involved in several carnapping incidents in Bacolod City, Descallar said.
He said they will check if the suspects have pending records with the BCPO.
Descallar said they will file charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, carnapping, and illegal possession of firearms against the suspects.
Both Legaspino and Lo denied that they were carnappers.
Legaspino said they found the Mitsubishi vehicle abandoned along Barangay 3 Monday evening, and they decided to remove the vehicle from the area.
Legaspino said they parked the vehicle in a machine shop believing that it will be claimed by the owner.
The two suspects also denied that they possessed firearms and illegal drugs.
Descallar said the suspects were merely making an alibi, adding they have witnesses and strong evidence against them.