MANILA, Philippines - Police officers confiscated at least four stolen cars and assorted car parts when they raided two homes in Bulacan and a warehouse in Valenzuela, an official said yesterday.
A suspected car thief was wounded in a running gun battle with police officers during the raid on the Marilao, Bulacan house on Wednesday afternoon while two of his alleged accomplices were arrested.
Pablito Gumasing Jr., 32, was wounded in the chest when he tried to fight off the police officers – a combined team from Valenzuela, Quezon City and Marilao – when he tried to escape during the raid.
Following a car chase, police officers cornered Gumasing in Lolomboy in Bocaue, Bulacan. He was brought to the St. Paul Hospital in Marilao and later transferred to the Malolos Provincial Hospital under heavy guard.
The Marilao raid was an offshoot of a previous raid on a warehouse in Canumay East, Valenzuela on Monday, Valenzuela police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento said.
“The arrest of (four members of a car theft gang) and the discovery of the warehouse was a big blow to the syndicate, which has been operating in Metro Manila. It is now a matter of time before all the members of this (car theft) group is put behind bars,†Armamento said.
He added that they are still identifying other members of the gang and the “fences†who buy the stolen spare parts.
Tailed
Police officers initially acted on a tip that a stolen Hyundai Getz, reportedly owned by a Manila police officer, was spotted along McArthur Highway headed toward Marilao at around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Armamento said.
The police officers followed the vehicle, which Gumasing was reportedly driving, until it stopped in front of a house on San Miguel street in Poblacion 2, Marilao, he said.
A few minutes later, a Ford Focus arrived and its occupant – later identified as Mac Lester San Diego – started unloading car parts.
Armamento said the presence of Gumasing and San Diego confirmed the information given by Joselito Valenzuela, who was arrested Monday. Valenzuela told police about the warehouse in Victoria Village, Canumay East and other houses where they hide stolen vehicles they cannibalize for parts, which they sell to some dealers in Banawe, Quezon City, Armamento said.
Police officers arrested San Diego at the Marilao house, but Gumasing was caught only after he tried to shoot it out with police officers who cornered him at a gas station in Bocaue.
Lawmen confiscated from the suspects various license plates, a car insurance policy reportedly from one of the owners of the stolen vehicles, spare parts, acetylene tanks and bolt cutters.
During interrogation, San Diego identified another alleged accomplice, Alvin Francisco, who also lives on San Miguel street. Armamento said police officers arrested Francisco and recovered a stolen black Honda Civic with a fake license plate at his house.
Rented, abandoned
On Monday afternoon, Armamento and his men raided the warehouse, located on Sibesco street in Canumay East on the strength of a warrant issued by Valenzuela Regional Trial Court Branch 172 Judge Nancy Palmones.
Valenzuela was caught driving a stolen van as he was on his way to the warehouse. The van was stolen in Quezon City last Nov. 13, Armamento said.
Valenzuela identified the warehouse as the place where his group “cannibalizes†stolen vehicles. Police officers found a dismantled Mitsubishi L300 van, spare parts, acetylene tanks and torches, Armamento said.
He said the warehouse was rented in November 2013 by a certain Rodel Sison, who abandoned the place a day after Valenzuela was apprehended.
He said the second van was registered under the name of Jeffrey de Guzman and was stolen in front of his house in Tenejeros, Malabon last Dec. 6, 2013.