MANILA, Philippines - A sport utility vehicle (SUV) owned by a former Ilocos Norte municipal councilor was taken at gunpoint by carjackers who left their getaway car behind in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday.
The Toyota Fortuner (NOX-958) is registered under the name of Kent Raguindin, 52, of Curimao, Ilocos Norte, according to Chief Inspector Randy Maluyo, Manila Police District anti-carjacking section.
Maluyo said Raguindin’s wife, Carmen, told police her son, James Jordan, was driving the Fortuner when a white Toyota Lite Ace van (TRP-711) rear-ended their vehicle at the corner of P. Florentino and A.H. Lacson streets at around 6 a.m.
When they alighted from the car to check the damage from the collision, two men – one of them holding a .38 caliber revolver – took over the Fortuner and sped away, leaving the van behind.
Maluyo said the van was used in another carjacking in Quezon City last week, involving another Fortuner.
The license plate on the Lite Ace was reportedly stolen from a dump truck. Authorities are tracing the real owner of the Lite Ace.
James Jordan picked out the photographs of Christopher Ducot, 27, and Rodel Nannos, 22, from the police gallery as the men who reportedly took their SUV.
Police said Ducot and Nannos used to belong to the Bonifacio-Salvatierra carjack gang, whose members were arrested during a raid on their hideout on Feb. 9, 2010.
“The two groups separated, with the Salvatierra group now active in their illegal activities after posting bail. Ducot and Nannos are now with the Salvatierra group,” Maluyo said.
Maluyo called on lawmakers to give laws against carjacking more teeth. He said the suspects should not be allowed to post bail since carjackers usually go back to their old activities after being released.