Canvassing resumes in Munti

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has filed yesterday a string of criminal charges against the suspected leader of a carnapping syndicate who figured in a hit-and-run incident with a ranking police official.

Chief Inspector Rex Derilo, intelligence chief of CIDG-7, filed at least six cases against Marcelo Cabahug before the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office.

Among the cases that Derilo filed against Cabahug include reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property, driving under the influence of liquor, usurpation of authority, resisting arrest, illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Commission on Elections gun ban.

Cabahug, alleged to be the leader of a carnapping syndicate operating in Cebu, was arrested by the CIDG last Friday near the Metropolitan Cathedral after a brief chase.

Prior to his arrest, Cabahug figured in a vehicular accident in which his car bumped Derilo's vehicle from behind during a stop due to a red traffic light.

Derilo, who was then attending to the medical needs of his wife who was confined in a hospital, approached Cabahug and appealed to him as he was attempting to speed off.

But Cabahug, allegedly very arrogant, grabbed Derilo's head and showed his Traffic Management Group identification card. Cabahug, who was drunk during that time, also identified himself as a police major.

Instead of heeding to Derilo's appeal to wait for the traffic enforcers to investigate the incident, Cabahug allegedly drove his car away, prompting the police official to ask for back up from his colleagues.

The team headed by Chief Inspector Fermin Armendarez responded to the call and eventually arrested Cabahug, who already abandoned his car near the Metropolitan Cathedral.

The CIDG operatives recovered two .45 caliber pistols and one .38 caliber pistol from Cabahug's car.  

In his affidavit, Derilo said Cabahug is a respondent of several carnapping charges that they have filed at the prosecutor's office. The CIDG claimed that Cabahug is the main source of luxury vehicles sold in Cebu City.

Cabahug allegedly connived with unscrupulous personnel of some government agencies in the registration of carnapped vehicles. - Fred P. Languido/LPM