Luzon's alleged carjack king falls

MANILA, Philippines - A 21-year-old man who reportedly leads a carjacking group operating in Central and Southern Luzon and in Metro Manila was arrested Friday with three of his alleged accomplices, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent George Regis said yesterday.

Edelberto Marteja, alias Boyong, is suspected of being one of the leaders of the Marteja-Briones carjack gang. The other alleged leader, Francis Briones, 32, was arrested in early July but has since posted bail. At least 46 car thefts have been attributed to their group, police said.

Regis said Marteja was nabbed near a gasoline station along Roosevelt Avenue along with brothers Larry and Ricky Fernandez, aged 36 and 35; and Mike Dicatanungan, 28.

Regis said the suspects were in a Honda Hatchback, which was reportedly stolen while parked in Bulacan.

Regis and Superintendent Ferdinand Villanueva, who heads the QCPD’s anti-carnapping unit, said the group has also ventured into robbing motels and apartelles. Marteja has been identified by the complainants, they added.

Regis also said the suspects were caught with four short firearms and a fragmentation grenade.

The Marteja-Briones group hogged the headlines after brothers Raymond and Roger Dominguez, who allegedly led a separate carjacking gang, were detained when they were accused of masterminding the abduction and killing of car dealer Venson Evangelista.

The car theft with homicide case against the Dominguez brothers and the others are still pending in court. Regis earlier said that there are four carjacking groups operating in Metro Manila and one of them is the Marteja-Briones group.

Aside from Briones, four alleged members of the Marteja-Briones carjack group were arrested early in July during a two-day operation conducted by QCPD operatives, who also recovered two stolen Mitsubishi Montero Sports. They are Joey Villanueva, Jonathan Rodriguez, Alexander Emmanuel Aquino, and Rommel Flores.

Police records show Joey Villanueva and Rodriguez are currently detained at the Quezon City Jail but Briones, Aquino and Flores have been able to post bail.