Romulo vehicle recovered

MANILA, Philippines - Police busted Thursday a car theft ring with the arrest of two members and recovery of the stolen vehicles of former foreign affairs chief Roberto Romulo and actor Derek Ramsay.

“This is a major breakthrough for us in our bid to rid Metro Manila of car theft syndicates. We are now conducting massive follow-up operations to get the gang leader and recover other stolen expensive vehicles,” said Director Roberto Rosales, chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

Rosales identified the arrested gang members as Dale Alimagno, 22, a college dropout and resident of 18 Everlasting St., Bergen Subdivision, Pulang Lupa 2, Las Piñas City; and Glenn del Castillo, 31, jobless, of 65 J. Java St., BF Homes, Parañaque City.

The suspects yielded a 12-gauge shotgun, a caliber .9mm pistol and a rocket-propelled grenade.

NCRPO operatives are now hunting down the gang leader, identified as Ivan Padilla.

Romulo’s Toyota Camry (ZNL 415) was stolen at gunpoint from his driver at The Fort in Taguig City last Tuesday, while Ramsay’s Volvo was stolen in Tagaytay City days ago.

Upon orders of Rosales, Superintendent Leo Francisco, head of the NCRPO’s regional police intelligence and operation unit, deployed his men at the gang’s safehouses in Quezon City, Las Piñas City, Parañaque City and Cavite following reports that the gang members were spotted there with suspected stolen vehicles.

At about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Francisco’s men spotted the suspects along Filhomes 2, Filinvest 2, Gate 2 in Batasan Hills, Quezon City on board Romulo’s car and another suspect’s stolen Toyota Camry with a No. 6 plate.

When police operatives tried to flag them down, one of the suspects opened fire, triggering a brief firefight.

Alimagno was grazed in the head, while Del Castillo lost one of his fingers during the shootout.

Both surrendered peacefully when they realized they were outnumbered and outgunned.

Padilla, along with a companion, escaped in another Camry.

The arrested suspects led NCRPO operatives to their safehouse in Parañaque City where Ramsay’s Volvo was recovered.

During tactical interrogation, the gang members claimed they were looking for buyers of the vehicles, which they were planning to sell for P225,000 each.

Alimagno and Del Castillo claimed they kept Ramsay’s Volvo at their Parañaque safehouse while waiting for a buyer.

Francisco said Alimagno and Del Castillo are cooperating fully with the NCRPO’s efforts to get Padilla and other gang members.

Ramsay and actress Angelica Panganiban went to the NCRPO headquarters in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City and thanked the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the quick recovery of their vehicle.

The NCRPO is preparing car theft charges against the suspects and their cohorts before the prosecutor’s office.

PNP: We’re not sleeping on the job

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, director of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), maintained that the PNP is addressing the problem on car theft.

“Break from informant. We have recovered a number of stolen vehicles of ordinary people,” said Supt. Rommel Miranda, NCRPO spokesman.

The PNP said earlier that it had recorded at least 578 cars, vans, and motorcycles stolen from January to June 2010 nationwide.

The PNP Directorate for Operations recorded the theft of 274 motor vehicles and 304 motorcycles during the first six months of the year with Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon recording the highest number of cases.

Espina said they have intensified the campaign against car theft and started information dissemination to give the public tips on how to prevent being victimized by car thieves.

The HPG chief said that a total of 178 stolen motor vehicles were recovered as the PNP-HPG stepped up the anti-carjacking campaign during the first six months of 2010.

He said police arrested six suspected members of notorious carjack syndicates during the series of operations.

Espina earlier directed all HPG Regional Units to vigorously go after syndicates engaged in carjacking and highway robbery.

“The HPG is also intensifying monitoring and control of vehicles being shipped to other regions through the Philippine nautical highway to prevent trafficking of stolen vehicles to the provinces,” he said. - Cecille Suerte Felipe