TMG: George, Bahenting groups behind car theft in C. Mindanao

Koronadal City – The Traffic Management Group has identified two dreaded groups as behind the carnappings not only in Central Mindanao but also in other parts of Mindanao and Luzon.    

Senior Superintendent Jacinto Tordil, regional director of the TMG in Central Mindanao, told The STAR that some of his men are now scouring the whereabouts and safehouses of “George” and “Bahenting” carjack groups in the region and certain areas in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Tordil refused to divulge the progress of their manhunt operation against the two groups, saying he was still waiting for feedback from his men in the field.

He said the intelligence units of the other law enforcement agencies are helping them to go after the members of the said groups.

Tordil tagged them as behind the carnapping of two vehicles, reportedly stolen by the car thieves from a preacher and trader in Manila and Cavite.

The two stolen cars, a Mitsubishi Adventure (MCr-515) owned by a Manila-based church minister and a Mitsubishi AD-V owned by Nora Garcia of Cavite, were recovered in Caraga Region by joint elements of TMG operatives in Regions 11,12 and Caraga.

Tordil said the said cars were turned over by them to the Task Force Limbas after it was recovered from the car thieves.

Aside from the two Mitsubishis, the TMG-Central Mindanao operatives also recovered nine other stolen cars with an estimated value of more than P5 million since January.

Some of those recovered were a white-colored Toyota Hi-Ace Wagon, silver Nissan X-Trail, KIA Wagon (sportage), Nissan Escalante, Isuzu Crosswind and Toyota Revo.  

Tordil said the stolen cars carnapped in Luzon, Vizayas and Mindanao were brought by thieves in their safehouses in Central Mindanao and ARMM, particularly in Maguindanao.

When asked to comment about the reports that some politicians and men in uniform are protecting the “George” and “Bahenting” carnapping groups, Tordil said, “we are now investigating it.”