Carjack gang falls in Navotas

Northern Police District (NPD) intelligence agents have arrested three suspected members of the notorious Baklas carjacking gang operating in the northern part of Metro Manila and adjacent localities during follow-up operations the other day in Navotas.

NPD director Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, identified the suspects as Mohammad Karem, 22, native of Marawi City and resident of Block 33, Phase 2, Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas; Balbino Magdayao Jr., 23, of Block 13, Lot 5, Section 9, Phase 1, Pabahay 2000, Barangay Muzon, San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan; and Antonio Rosialda, 33, of Block 4, Site 8, Lot 23, Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas.

At 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Michael Cena, 21, of Caloocan City, sought police assistance after unidentified men stole his tricycle while parked in front of a vulcanizing shop on Tanigue Street in Dagat-Dagatan.

Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., chief of the NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU), formed a team to track down the suspects.

The DPIU operatives were able to capture Magdayao at the group’s lair in Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas after witnesses pointed to him as the man who drove away with Cena’s tricycle.

Magdayao led the police to the arrest of Karem and Rosialda Friday.

Ramos said his men were able to find Cena’s motorcycle, a red Kawasaki, at the McBridge Parking Lot on Palanca Street, Quiapo, Manila, while the sidecar was recovered on Torsillo Street in Caloocan City.

Ramos said Magdayao, long wanted by the police for alleged involvement in several carjacking incidents, served as the group’s legman while Karem and Rosialda were responsible for looking for buyers of their stolen vehicles.

Police are now hunting down a certain Danny of Quiapo, said to be the gang financier, while charges are being readied against the suspects.