MPD busts car theft gang

The Manila Police District’s "Oplan Sita" snared the other day three suspected car thieves at a checkpoint in San Miguel, Manila.

In a press presentation of the suspects yesterday, MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said the first to be arrested was Alfredo del Prado, 42, jobless, of San Juan.

Bulaong said operatives of the Sta. Mesa police station manning a checkpoint along Palanca street flagged down a gray Lite Ace van (TBP-581) after officers noticed that the vehicle’s sticker was tampered.

During questioning, the van’s driver (Del Prado) failed to show the vehicle’s registration papers, prompting authorities to conduct an inspection of the vehicle.

Two identification cards bearing the name of a certain Joseph Alexis Bandol were found on the flooring of the vehicle. When contacted by Manila policemen, the person on the ID cards informed them that his vehicle was stolen while parked in front of his house in Palanan, Makati City last July 6.

Del Prado was arrested and later pointed to a person inside a Toyota Corona (TAV-914), which was then following the stolen vehicle, as his accomplice.

The second suspect was identified as Charlie Panda, 34, also of San Juan.

He and Del Prado named a third person, a certain Macmod Liwalug, 34, of the Islamic Center in Quiapo, as their accomplice.

Manila policemen, backed up by operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics, raided Liwalug’s lair in Quiapo, resulting in his apprehension.

Bulaong commended the vigilance of the Sta. Mesa policemen for the busting of the car theft gang operating in Makati City, even as he reiterated the low incidence of car thefts in Manila.

Meanwhile, MPD Anti-Carnapping Section head Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. said charges of violation of the anti-fencing law for possession of a stolen vehicle would initially be filed against Del Prado and Panda.

The three suspects would be turned over to the Makati City police to face car theft charges.