8 arrested for hijacking truck loaded with diapers

MANILA, Philippines - Eight people were arrested yesterday for allegedly hijacking a truck loaded with P200,000 worth of diapers in Parañaque City.

Police officers from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) Task Force Limbas nabbed Rommel Santos, Rizaldy Simba and six others following a complaint by the operations manager of J. Movers International that their truck (RKG-779) was commandeered along Sucat Avenue at around 4:05 a.m.

Task force head Superintendent Ronald Lee said company employees “witnessed the incident and discreetly followed” the suspects, who were in a green Hyundai Grace van (ZPD-701) and relayed the information to the HPG, which set up a dragnet.

At around 4:30 a.m., HPG police officers spotted the suspects’ vehicle along Airport Road in Pasay City and arrested Simba and Santos, who yielded two .45 caliber pistols. They rescued truck driver Michael Pepito and dispatcher Aquilino Salonoy, who were blindfolded, hogtied and placed in the middle of the van.

HPG director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said the van was on a police list of stolen vehicles.

In a follow-up operation, HPG policemen spotted the hijacked truck parked along F. Huertas street in Sta. Cruz, Manila. “The operatives positioned themselves and waited for any person who would approach the truck. After several minutes, several persons arrived and unloaded the cargo and transferred them to the Diaper ng Bayan store near the area,” Espina said.

The HPG coordinated with the Manila Police District to recover the truck and arrest the six persons who unloaded the diapers.