Suspected 'Bukas-Kotse' gang man nabbed at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines - Airport policemen arrested yesterday an alleged “Bukas-Kotse” gang member they reportedly caught breaking into a van at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) parking area and stealing the owner’s belongings.

NAIA assistant general manager for emergency and security Rene Gonzales identified the suspect as Rodolfo Brillantes, 46, of San Dionisio, Parañaque City. Gonzales said Brillantes’ three companions were able to escape.

Gonzales said his office has been receiving many complaints regarding thefts at the NAIA parking areas. Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Melvin Matibag and the office of the Police Intelligence and Investigation Department (PIID) launched an operation to catch members of the Bukas-Kotse gang.

Gonzales said PIID head Capt. Aldin Gay deployed airport policemen to monitor the parking area via closed-circuit television cameras.

Gonzales said they noticed a man looking over various vehicles at the parking area, then stopped at a Mitsubishi L300 van and opened the vehicle’s front passenger window.

Airport policemen Angelito Ramos, Roderick Mejia and Ronaldo Lardizabal rushed to the area and reportedly caught Brillantes in the van holding items he had taken from the vehicle.

His three companions, who served as lookouts, fled when he was arrested, they said.

The lawmen frisked Brillantes and reportedly found a bladed weapon tucked into the suspect’s waistband as well as other items stolen from the vehicle.

The owner of the vehicle, who was not named by the lawmen, confirmed that the items found in Brillantes’ possession were indeed his.

Gay said they found that Brillantes was convicted of drug pushing and illegal possession of firearms and served his sentence at the National Bilibid Prison.

Brillantes, however, said he went to NAIA to greet boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and ask a favor for his child, who celebrated his birthday yesterday.