2 groups eyed in high-profile carjackings

Police are eyeing two carjacking groups involved in robbing public figures of their vehicles, including the one forcibly taken from a teenage daughter of former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson last Sunday in Quezon City.

Inspector Angelo Nicolas, chief of the Anti-Carnapping Section of the Quezon City Police District, said follow-up operations are being conducted against the “Dominguez Group” and the “Bonifacio Group,” both based in Central Luzon.

Nicolas said they are checking with informants if a black Toyota Fortuner (ZLY-910) is being sold after it was stolen from Kimberly Singson at around 7 a.m. Sunday on Tomas Morato Avenue.

He said the Dominguez Group members robbed actress Shirley Fuentes of her Honda CRV in front of her house in Bulacan last October. The vehicle was recovered a few days later after the group’s alleged leader, Raymond Dominguez, was caught driving the car in Marilao. The police also found some of Fuentes’ belongings in his possession.

The group also attempted to take the Ford Expedition of former Quezon City Councilor Rommel Abesamis last January on Agham Road. The vehicle ran out of fuel as the carjackers attempted to flee, forcing the suspects to leave it behind. One of the identified members of the group left behind a police clearance bearing his name.

The Bonifacio Group is also believed to be behind the carjacking of the Hyundai Starex van of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Executive Director Angel Vergel de Dios in September last year in Quezon City.

The vehicle, already bearing a different license plate, was spotted in Greenhills, San Juan hours later, and inside were members of the carjacking group, including their leader, Eduardo Bonifacio.

Nicolas said the leaders of both groups are currently out on bail, causing their gangs to resurface.   – Reinir Padua