Probers: 2 in foiled heist belong to Dominguez carjack gang

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected carjackers who were arrested by a Makati police officer and his Manila policeman friend at a gasoline station in Barangay Magallanes Tuesday night are members of the Dominguez carjacking syndicate, an official said yesterday.

Acting Makati City police chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said Vergel Nacua, 19, and Oliveros Valcos, 48, admitted during interrogation to being members of the carjack gang whose alleged leaders – brothers Roger and Raymond Dominguez – are in jail on carjacking and homicide charges for the killing of car traders Venson Evangelista and Emerson Lozano and his driver, Ernani Sencil.  

Investigators said Nacua and Valcos were recruited by Mauricio Adelan, alias “Mawing,” to steal vehicles in exchange for P20,000 each. The two men would meet Adelan at a hamburger restaurant in Bacoor, Cavite to get their “assignments.”

“We are also checking if the suspects are also involved in other carjacking incidents, particularly those involving vehicles taken from Makati that end up in the provinces of Laguna and Cavite,” Santos said, adding that a team is also searching for Adelan.

On Tuesday night, the suspects were arrested by Makati police officer SPO1 John Ramirez and his business partner, Manila policeman PO3 Neil Encarnacion, after they pretended be interested in renting a Toyota Grandia van for a trip to Laguna. Santos said the two policemen operate an Internet-based van rental business.

Santos said the suspects contacted Ramirez and Encarnacion and asked to meet at about 11:45 p.m. at a gasoline station in Magallanes near the Osmeña Highway.

“They asked Ramirez and Encarnacion if they could meet at the gas station. It appears that they were not aware that the owners of the business are police officers as they conducted the transaction over the Internet,” said Santos.

Santos said when the suspects and the policemen met at the gas station, Valcos excused himself to go to the station’s restroom. It was at this point that Ramirez became suspicious and followed the suspect. In the restroom, Valcos drew a .45 caliber pistol and shot at Ramirez but missed. Ramirez disarmed and subdued Valcos.

Outside, the commotion attracted the attention of Encarnacion, who subdued Nacua.

When the policemen frisked the suspects, they found a grenade on Nacua. Santos said the suspects’ bags also contained rolls of packaging tape. Santos said the suspects intended to tie up the two policemen with the packaging tape.