Caloocan hijackers' middleman identified

MANILA, Philippines - The alleged contact of at least 10 “policemen” who hijacked Tuesday a 10-wheeler cargo truck loaded with P1 million worth of grocery items in Caloocan City was identified and is now being sought by the local police.

Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen, Caloocan City police acting chief, said that Danielle Gregorio, a resident of Romasanta street in Tondo, Manila is being tagged by the two other suspects Rolando Zuñiga, 52; and Jesus Maru, 55; as the one who hired them.

Zuñiga and Maru, drivers of the two six-wheeler delivery vans reportedly used in transporting the goods the group had stolen, told the police that it was Gregorio who served as the “middleman” between them and the hijackers.

“Danielle could be our key to the identification of the hijackers but he is no longer in Tondo. He could have been tipped off that the police are after him,” Quibuyen told The STAR.

At least 10 armed men in police uniform hijacked a cargo truck driven by Reynaldo Pula, 39, along MacArthur Highway in Caloocan City while on its way to deliver the grocery items to Boyax Trucking in Malabon City Tuesday morning.

The other suspects dumped the driver and his two helpers unharmed and brought the hijacked truck to Moriones Parking Services on Moriones street, Tondo without knowing that another helper, Joseph Pabilano, was sleeping inside.

Pabilano uncovered the hijacking and led the police to Moriones street in Tondo but the suspects including their two vans, (WPJ 350 and RCU-2930) were already gone with the goods.

The police traced the vans on Zaragosa street in Tondo. This also resulted in the arrest of Zuñiga and Maru.

Quibuyen said that Zuñiga and Maru claimed that they don’t have knowledge where the stolen goods were delivered after the suspects took from them their trucks on C-3 Road in Caloocan City.  They said that Gregorio told them their trucks would be returned to them.

Quibuyen said they were planning to also file charges against the owners of the delivery vans, Arsenio Baldazo of Nueva Ecija and Petronio and Iluminada Mayuyo of Tondo, Manila.