Falling like dominoes

A fidgety victim and his inconsistent statements spelled the beginning of the end for a hijacking syndicate in Parañaque City.

Eight men, including the alleged syndicate leader, fell one after the other into the hands of the police after the "victim" Ernie Go, 40, of San Nicolas, Sta. Ana, Pampanga, admitted that he was part of a staged hijacking last May 14 of P3.6 million worth of fabrics he was supposed to deliver to Sta. Ana, Manila.

Aside from Go, those arrested were alleged gang leader Oscar Villanueva, Edito Suyang, Jesus Lusong Jr., Rodolfo Debotas, Julio de Dios, Alfredo de la Cruz and Conrado Santos.

Police records showed that three unidentified armed men hijacked the six-wheeler closed van (UJG 724), which Go had been driving along Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Barangay San Dionisio at around 4:30 a.m.

Go claimed the hijackers blindfolded him and his two helpers, then brought them to Pulilan, Bulacan, where 1,825 rolls of imported fabric were transferred to a waiting vehicle.

During police interrogation, Go appeared tense and uneasy. He later admitted that the hijacking was pre-planned, Superintendent Ronald Estilles, city police chief, said.

Go finally identified his contact, co-driver Suyang, who offered him P30,000 for his participation to set up the hijacking. Suyang then pointed to Lusong as his contact who offered him P50,000 as payment.

Lusong was arrested in an entrapment operation on May 17. Lusong admitted he was one of the three hijackers. He named one of his companions as Debotas.

Debotas, for his part, said he was the one who drove the closed van to a warehouse in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. It was also Debotas who identified Villanueva as their leader.

The third hijacker, De Dios, helped set up the entrapment operation that led to the arrest of Villanueva. Villanueva later led police to De la Cruz and Santos.

Recovered from Villanueva’s possession was P200,000 in cash intended for the payment of those who participated in the hijacking.

Also recovered was the red Toyota Tamaraw FX driven by Santos and used to escort the hijacked van to the warehouse.

The warehouse was already empty when police raided it after receiving information from Debotas. Estilles said police will continue to conduct follow-up operations to recover the stolen items.

Appropriate charges will be filed against the suspects who are now detained. – With Non Alquitran