PNP-TMG Arrests 3 ‘Protector Cops’ : Car theft group busted

Police anti-carjacking operatives announced yesterday the busting of a big-time carjacking syndicate following a month-long operations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon that also led the arrest of three policemen, one of whom is said to be the leader of the group.

The series of police operations also resulted in the recovery of 10 stolen vehicles. Four civilian members of the gang, who claimed to be buyers of the stolen cars, were likewise apprehended.

Supt. Hermogenes Tosino, chief of the TMG’s Public Information Office, identified the suspects as PO1 Luisito Capulong, of the Central Luzon anti-drugs unit and alleged leader of the group; PO2 Wilfrano Tabernilla assigned at the Intelligence Group; PO2 Rodolfo Torlao of the Caloocan City police; Pablo Pimentel alias "Pebbles," Peter Cabigon alias "Retep," Eduardo Dagiso Villar alias "Oskee," and Emigdio de la Cruz Ramos alias "Amang."

The busting of the group, Tosino said, came following the arrest two weeks ago of one Bernie Sapitula who gave the TMG operatives vital information regarding the group’s operations, particularly in Southern Tagalog.

He said several members of the PNP are protecting him and other group members involved in the buy and sell of stolen vehicles.

Police seized from him a stolen violet Mitsubishi Lancer car with license plate JON-888 and a white Toyota Corolla with license plate TSS-437. Later, Sapitula pointed to the police the places where the group conceal the carjacked vehicles.

The operatives then proceeded to Batangas City from where they recovered three stolen Mitsubishi Lancer cars, a Mitsubishi L-200 Strada, a Toyota Revo and a Mitsubishi L-300 van.

In a follow-up operation that ensued, police arrested Pimentel in Roxaco Landing Subdivision in Nasugbu, Batangas and seized from him a stolen beige Honda Civic with license plate UCD-512.

Pimentel pointed to Cabigon as the one who turned-over the vehicle to him. Cabigon later fingered Torlao as the source of the said car.

On Feb. 28, Caloocan City police chief Senior Supt. Samuel Pagdilao turned over Torlao to the TMG. At the TMG headquarters in Camp Crame, Torlao fingered Tabernilla who was later taken into custody by the police.

On March 2, Capulong, who was driving a Toyota Tamaraw FX with license plate UTH-273, which was not its original license plate, was nabbed by TMG operatives following a brief car chase from Caloocan to Letre Road in Malabon.

Torlao and Tabernilla positively identified him as their leader.

On that that same day, the police collared Villar, who has a standing warrant of arrest for carjacking, and Ramos, also in Caloocan.

Tosino said that apart from the stolen vehicles, a caliber .45 pistol and a caliber .38 revolver and police identification cards were seized from the suspects. The suspects are now detained at the TMG headquarters in Camp Came.