Police clear company vehicle tagged in Makati carjacking

The Makati police department’s anti-carnapping unit (Ancar) said yesterday it has completed its investigation on a carjacking incident that allegedly took place along Pasong Tamo Extension last Oct. 11

The Ancar said its probe showed that the incident involving a Lexus SUV was not a carjacking attempt, but a mere traffic altercation between two motorists.

Police had launched an investigation after a call was made to the Philippine National Police Anti-Carnapping Hotline about an alleged attempt to steal the SUV near the U-turn slot of the Magallanes overpass last Oct. 11, a report of which was published in The STAR.

Excerpts from a Makati police station blotter showed that driver of the SUV claimed that at around 10:30 p.m., his path was blocked by a Mitsubishi Lancer (GEB 916).

The driver said one of the three men inside the car suddenly poked a gun at him, prompting him to maneuver the Lexus around the Lancer to escape.

He said that as the other car continued to give chase, he was able to enter a well-lit building with security guards on Pasong Tamo Extension. The pursuing car gave up the chase and fled at this point.

Police Officer 2 Nelson Dioquino, case investigator, said that after talking to the parties involved as well as witnesses, it was learned that no one tried to steal anyone’s vehicle.

"We conducted an investigation and we found that it was simply a minor altercation between two drivers," Dioquino said. The other driver probably mistook the actions of the other party after a near collision took place."

The Lancer involved is owned by CADI, a local company holding business on Pasong Tamo in Makati City.

Eugenio Santiago, manager of the firm, earlier denied the company vehicle was involved in a carjacking attempt.

He said he was shocked to find out that the vehicle, which he sometimes personally uses, had been the subject of a police alarm.

Dioquino, however, said officials and employees of the company should no longer worry since the findings of Ancar’s probe cleared the vehicle of any involvement in criminal activity.

He said the alarm on the Lancer (GEB 916) has been lifted.

The officer added that both parties involved in the traffic altercation have not pursued any case against each other with the police.