2 carjackers arrested

Two suspected carnappers were nabbed following a brief chase by a mobile car crew of the Manila Police District last night in Paco, Manila.

Francisco Joseph, 28, of Malabon City, and Ronald de Asis, 31, of Navotas City, tried to break through a police checkpoint at the corner of Singalong and President Qurino Avenue after officers noted that their Kawasaki ZX has no license plates, according to Superintendent Rolando Tumalad, chief of the District Mobile Patrol Unit.

Two mobile cars chased the fleeing suspects until they were cornered along Taft Avenue, Tumalad said. During questioning, the two suspects failed to present pertinent papers of the motorcycle they were riding in and admitted that the vehicle was stolen somewhere in Caloocan City.

Police traced the ownership of the vehicle to Jesus Defensor Jr. who lost the same while parked inside his garage Monday night in Grace Park, Caloocan City.

Record verification showed that Joseph had recently been released from jail on Nov. 8 for a robbery case.

Initial charges of driving without license, riding in tandem, and violation of the no plate, no travel policy were filed against the two suspects, while the carnapping charges will be referred to the Caloocan City police.  – Nestor Etolle