Carjack group's link to LTO, soldiers eyed

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are investigating a carjacking syndicate’s reported links to police officers, soldiers, and Land Transportation Office (LTO) personnel after 10 suspected syndicate members were arrested in Valenzuela City Tuesday night.

“We have taken down the text messages on the cell phone of one of the gang members. We are now presently decoding the messages to determine the identity of their contacts at the police or military and the LTO,” Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut said.

He said that based on tactical document analysis, the syndicate has been coordinating with “Sgt. Nicko” and “LTO 1” in their day-to-day operations.

Meanwhile, Yabut and his men recovered a stolen gray Honda CRV somewhere in Quezon City yesterday as a result of tactical interrogation with the suspects. The car’s license plate (ZPF-298) was superimposed with a stolen license plate (NVI-877). Yabut is also tracking down a pick-up van and a black sport utility vehicle somewhere in Valenzuela City.

Yesterday, Wilmer Joseph King Dimatulac, 45, identified Armando Vergara, Edmundo Bonifacio and Jomel Salvatierra as the men who took at gunpoint his silver Nissan Navara (WZW-168) along Sta. Cruz, Manila on Jan. 21. He also found some parts of his missing vehicle from the remnants of chop-chop vehicles recovered at the gang’s hideout in Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City.   

The “Bonifacio-Salvatierra Carnap Gang” is allegedly responsible for a series of carjacking in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, according to Yabut. “The gang is notorious for forcibly taking away sport utility vehicles at gunpoint, and would directly drive away the vehicle at their hideout where the vehicle is reassembled and sold to their contact buyers,” he added.

During the raid the suspects were reportedly caught in the act of assembling a suspected stolen vehicle. Police also recovered a gray Hyundai (ZKS-928), a gray Montero (NZI-624), a red Honda Enduro motorcycle (OJ-7851) and several motor vehicle parts.

Barangay Ugong chairman Vitaliano Lota told The STAR that for months, residents saw cars and other vehicles go into the gang’s hideout – a walled compound along Lamesa street – but none of them came out. Cargo trucks would come and go from the compound, he said.

Lota said the owners of the compound are living in the US and left the care of the property to close relatives. “They are decent people so you don’t perceive any illegal activity,” he said.   – With Perseus Echeminada