Syndicate eyed in rise of car thefts in ARMM

Koronadal City — Police authorities here are looking into the possibility that a syndicate operating in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is behind the series of thefts involving luxury cars and motorcycle in this city.

This came after police in Maguindanao recovered on Sunday an L-200 Mitsubishi pick-up earlier reported missing.

The pick-up was reportedly parked beside the owner’s house in Agriville Subdivision here when it was taken by unidentified suspects last Nov. 30. It was later found in Barangay Noling of Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province.

The Maguindanao cops who found the vehicle, however, did not identify any suspects or tell how the car, owned by Efren Cahilig, manager of Lorenzo Shipping Lines in Cotabato City, was recovered.

Koronadal City Chief of Police Supt. Florendo Quidilla Jr. said he is eyeing the possible involvement of a carnapping syndicate based in the ARMM as the primary suspect in the recent spate of car thefts in this city.

In the month of November alone, a total of four luxury cars and three motorcycles were reported missing.

"Based on intelligence reports and the escape route of the carnappers, I could possibly say that the perpetrators are from the nearby ARMM," Quidilla said.

He suspected that said carnappers have "contacts" in this city. "Yung mga contacts na yan ang nagbibigay sa kanila ng information kung ano ang gagawin nila at kung kailan sila aatake (These contacts give them information on what to do and when they are going to attack)," the police official said.

He advised car owners to take "precautionary measures" to protect their vehicles against carnappers.

"Please bear with us and give us time to solve this carnapping incidents happening in our city," Quidilla said to the carnap victims.