7 car thieves arrested in anti-carnap operations

The Philippine National Police-Traffic Management Group (PNP-TMG) announced yesterday the arrest of seven suspected members of a carjacking ring and the recovery of nine stolen vehicles in two separate anti-carjacking operations in Bulacan and Pampanga.

PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the arrest dealt a major blow to the operations of several syndicates engaged in the distribution of car spare parts and accessories in the two provinces.

Joint police team from the TMG and Pulilan Police Station and the Bulacan Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) raided a piggery farm in Barangay Lumbac, Pulilan on Friday and arrested Leonardo Gopez, 26; Levy Gopez, 25; Ariel Feliciano, 23 and Vicente Masiluangan, 28.

Police raiding team found stolen vehicles, one blue Toyota Corolla GLI with license plates UDP-110; one Mitsubishi L300 FB Van’ a red Mitsubishi Adventure van, maroon Nissan Sentra LEC with license plates WKK-677 and two Toyota Tamaraw FX.

Also recovered were 11 engine blocks, five plate numbers, six rims, 21 rims with tires and assorted motor vehicle parts, ready for distribution to car spareparts’ retailers in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Chief Supt. Danilo Mangila, TMG director, said two more vehicles, a green Toyota Hi-Ace Commuter van with license plates WHT-318 and a blue KIA Pride parked in front of the piggery compound were found to have been stolen.

Two of the recovered vehicles were properly turned-over to their lawful owners during a media presentation held at the Camp Crame’s grandstand yesterday afternoon.