12 alleged hijackers nabbed in Manila, QC

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve alleged members of a hijacking ring operating in Metro Manila were arrested by the Manila Police District (MPD) Sunday.

Businessman Mark Sy Lu complained that his employees – truck driver Orlando Ramos and helper Soreto Mangguimba – were cruising in a 10-wheeler truck along Road 10 in Tondo, Manila when the suspects, in a green Nissan Vanette, intercepted them in front of a supermarket on Nov. 30.

Chief Inspector Danilo Buyao, who heads the MPD’s District Police Intelligence Operations Unit, said the suspects took over the truck, hogtied the two men and dumped them in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

Ramos and Magguimba said they untied themselves and made their way back to Caloocan and told their employer what happened. Lu and the two victims then went to the MPD to report the incident.

Buyao and his men said they raided the hideout of the gang, allegedly led by Fritz Gerard Bonga, 29, and arrested Jonathan Capisnon, 48; Joy Abraham, 24; and Ely Samson, 42.

Bonga himself was arrested a few hours later at the LA Café in Ermita, Manila, after Capisnon – upon instructions by police – told him the goods had been delivered and they were about to be paid. He arrived at the bar wearing a police Special Action Force uniform and carrying fake identification cards, Buyao said.

In a follow-up operation, police officers arrested Benjie Bohocan, Ogie Bohocan, Calot Bohocan, Ernesto Marasigan, Rachally Alverz, Climaco Alinabon, Redentor Aguilar and Eduardo Baluyot as they were allegedly unloading P450,000 worth of goods in a warehouse in Barangay Sauyo in Novaliches, Quezon City. The goods and the truck were recovered intact.

Bonga was charged with hijacking, usurpation of authority and falsification of public documents. Capisnon, Abraham and Samson were charged with hijacking and possession of deadly weapons while the eight others arrested in Novaliches were charged with violating the anti-fencing law.