Carjackers strike in Metro

MANILA, Philippines - Carjackers struck at the height of heavy rains Tuesday and stole three vehicles while policemen were busy rescuing residents affected by flooding in Metro Manila.

The carjacking incidents prompted National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Alan Purisima to remind his district directors and station commanders to be on alert against lawless elements even during calamities.

“We received no report of major crime incidents on Tuesday except for the three car theft cases which we are addressing now,” Purisima said in an interview.

Reports reaching Senior Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., NCRPO operations division chief, showed that a Kia Besta van was stolen while parked in North Fairview, Quezon City while a Suzuki raider was taken by robbers while parked in Baseco, Tondo, Manila.

Armed men forcibly took a unit of tractor head along Gilmore street in San Juan City, which Ramos said could be a case of hijacking.

According to Ramos, the NCRPO’s crime journal was empty of reports of major incidents as of 12 p.m. yesterday.

Ramos noted that residents in low-lying areas “evacuated” their vehicles to higher ground to prevent them from being submerged in floodwaters.

“Several vehicles were left unguarded and the robbers could have taken advantage of the situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, seven armed men took advantage of the heavy rains and hijacked a container truck carrying P5 million worth of tires in Quezon City.

SPO4 Allan de la Cruz said the suspects fled with the container truck (TXA-811) of Arieta Trucking Corp.

The truck was supposed to deliver the tires to Philippine Allied Enterprises Corp. in Cainta, Rizal when it was intercepted by the suspects along Granada street in Barangay Valencia, Quezon City at 4 a.m. – With Reinir Padua