Hot pursuit in White Plains: TMG nabs 2

Two young men who were accosted for driving a car without a registration sticker, got into deeper trouble yesterday after policemen found in their possession two unlicensed firearms.

Traffic Management Group (TMG) director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan said Christian Lim, of Green Haven Park Homes and Niño Jotie of Barangay Paligsahan, both in Quezon City, are likely members of a car theft gang.

He said they are trying to determine if they have links to the Valle Verde car theft gang.

Pan said the two were arrested in front of Gate 2 of Camp Crame following a brief chase that started at around 2 a.m. inside White Plains Subdivision in Quezon City.

Prior to the car chase, TMG officers received information that a Suzuki Esteem with two armed occupants were seen roaming in the vicinity of White Plains.

TMG Task Force Limbas officer-in charge Senior Inspector Hansel Marantan quickly dispatched three teams — Mobile 86, Mobile 11 and Mobile 77 — to monitor and intercept the vehicle.

After a few minutes, Mobile 66 spotted the vehicle. The car’s rear license plate did not have a Land Transportation Office (LTO) sticker for the year 2005.

In his report, Marantan said the team signaled Lim, who was driving, to pull over, but instead of stopping, the vehicle sped off, resulting in a car chase.

The TMG mobile team called for assistance.

The suspects drove northward and reached Gate 2 of Camp Crame, where their vehicle was cornered by pursuing lawmen.

"As the officers were informing the driver of his violations, they spotted several firearms inside the car.

Seized from Lim was a loaded caliber .22 pistol without a serial number while Jotie yielded a caliber .45 pistol. Taken from the back seat was a short magazine for an M-16 with 19 bullets.

The TMG is still coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to determine if the vehicle was a "hot car."

The anti-car theft unit of the Philippine National Police has been trying to redeem its image after several bungled operations, including the wounding of a businessman, who was mistaken for a carjacker.