Alleged 'Kuratong Baleleng' member falls in carnapping

CEBU, Philippines - A former bank employee and alleged member of the Kuratong Baleleng gang was arrested last Wednesday afternoon in barangay Pardo after he stole a Toyota Vios car owned by Service Tech located on D. Jakosalem Street, Cebu City.

Elements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) of Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) intercepted the suspect, Joey Tablante, a resident of Sudlon, Lahug at around 1 p.m. when he was on his way to deliver the car to a buyer.

The police acted on an information given by an asset who said the suspect was trying to sell the car at P150,000 in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City.

Jason Go, 30, a resident of Consolacion town and the owner of Service Tech, reported last Monday to Pari-an Police Station that his car was stolen by Tablante.

Police Chief Insp. Elma delos Santos said based on Go’s statements, Tablante went to the victim’s office last Monday morning and pretended to be a customer looking for a car to buy. Go and the suspect then went to test drive the Toyota Vios bearing plate numbers YBM-470.

After the test drive, Go said they disembarked and Tablante handed over to him a bag that allegedly contained the money as payment for the vehicle. The suspect then got inside the car and sped away that surprised the businessman.

But what was more shocking was when Go opened the bag, he found out that it contained “budol” money and not cash as what the suspect made him believe.

Chief Insp. Delos Santos, however, said that they conducted follow up investigation and learned from an asset that the stolen car is being sold by the suspect at P150,000 in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City. They immediately set up an operation that led to the interception of the vehicle and the suspect in Pardo.

The police official said they already called up Go and informed him about the incident but the victim was allegedly not interested to file a case against the suspect.

Based on the information gathered by the police, Tablante is a former bank employee who was terminated after he stole something from his employer.

In 2006, the suspect also figured in cases recorded at the National Bureau of Investigation and the Theft and Robbery Section of the city police but they were all dismissed because the complainants did not pursue the case because they were afraid of Tablante, who is allegedly a member of the famous Kuratong Baleleng gang.

Delos Santos is calling on the other victims of Tablante to come up to their office to file cases against the suspect, who has already a pending warrant of arrest for carnapping case. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)