Yesterday President Arroyo and senior police officials presented five car theft suspects arrested over the weekend in four separate operations in Bulacan, Pampanga, Quezon City and Pasay City.
Seven stolen vehicles were recovered during the operations.
Mrs. Arroyo went to Camp Crame for the presentation of suspects identified as Miguel Alvaro, alias Mike of Barangay Camachilihan, Bustos, Bulacan; Andres Palabasan Jr., alleged leader of the so-called Mayor group of Sunville Subdivision in Visayas Avenue, Project 6, Quezon City; Romy Arago of Pugo street., Batasan Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City; and Alvin Magpayo and Philip Andre Navarro.
The suspects were arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Traffic Management Group under Senior Superintendent Danilo Mangila.
In a prepared statement, the President commended again the PNP and said "proper police work scores in our campaign" in crushing criminal groups such as car theft syndicates.
"The PNP is starting the week with good news for our citizens who have been complaining of the scourge of carnapping," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"Our uncompromising drive against carnappers has resulted in four strikes against carnappers in as many days," she said.
The President said the cases were solved with the help of citizens and victims themselves who immediately sought police assistance.
"To the police force, I say push harder, work better, do more. There is no rest until our streets are safe," she said.
Mangila cited the victims’ move to immediately report to the police the car theft incidents, saying it helped in the swift solution of the cases.
Mrs. Arroyo said the victims who had reported the cases strengthened the filing of charges against the suspects.
Four stolen vehicles were recovered in the operation at Alvaro’s residence in Barangay Camachilihan in Bustos last Wednesday. The vehicles were a maroon Toyota Tamaraw FX, a gray Mitsubishi Lancer, a black Suzuki motorcycle and a white Suzuki motorcycle. Knocked-down vehicle parts and car theft paraphernalia were also recovered by police.
Palabasan and Arago, leader and member of the Mayor Group, respectively, one of the biggest and most active car theft syndicates in the country, were arrested in Pampanga, and were foiled in their plan to steal another car in Apalit, Pampanga last Thursday.
Undercover police agents received information that a maroon Toyota Corolla with license plates TLJ-319 would be used during an operation. The tip prompted policemen to a stake out along MacArthur Highway where the car was seen.
When policemen tried to flag down the Corolla, the driver sped away. A brief chase ensued that led to the arrest of Palabasan and Arago.
In Quezon City, policemen on an anti-car theft patrol along Katipunan Road recovered a green Isuzu Crosswinds van reportedly stolen on Aug. 8.
A Mitsubishi Pajero wagon reportedly stolen on Sunday in Pasong Tamo in Makati was also recovered less than 11 hours after it was driven away. Magpayo and Navarro were arrested during the operation, and while in the act of selling the stolen vehicle near San Juan de Dios Medical Center in Pasay City.