PNP beefs up monitoring of Mindanao car theft ring

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome has ordered a tight monitoring of a notorious Mindanao-based car theft syndicate which operates similarly with the equally notorious Dominguez Group in Luzon.

Bartolome issued the directive after Highway Patrol Group (HPG) operatives arrested four suspected car thieves and recovered 12 “hot cars” in a series of operations in the Southern Mindanao and Caraga regions on Monday.

Bartolome directed the police directors of the two regions to support and coordinate with each other and for the HPG to sustain the momentum of its efforts against the so-called Baktin Group.

In a report to the PNP chief, HPG director Chief Superintendent Arrazad Subong said follow-up operations were underway to arrest syndicate leader Ryan “Baktin” Yu.

Yu and four of his arrested cohorts have been charged with violation of Republic Act 6539 (Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972) over a recent carjacking incident in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

Last Oct. 16, Subong said the group stole a Toyota Innova (LHB-816) owned by the agro-industrial firm Sumifro in Tandag City.

Security officers of Sumifro immediately reported the incident through text messaging to the PNP Complaints Center which, in turn, alerted police units in the area.

Sumifro security officers informed Senior Superintendent Gregorio Pimentel, chief of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 11 based in Davao City, that the car thieves had a back-up vehicle, a Hyundai Tuczon (KFP-842). From the HPG files, Sumifro personnel positively identified one of the suspects as Ryan Yu.

Later that day, HPG operatives spotted the stolen Toyota Innova in Barangay Lungsod, Tandag City with a different license plate (KET-883) and driven by one Hermie Talabe.

Pimentel coordinated with the Davao City police for a subsequent follow-up operation at Yu’s warehouse in Barangay Obreo, Davao City where the Hyundai Tuczon was found.

Police also recovered from the warehouse a Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia (KDP-869), Honda Fit (MFH-580), and a Kia Carens without a license plate.

Another follow-up operation in Surigao del Sur resulted in the recovery of a Ford Ranger (TAI-674), Mitsubishi Montero (LGL-133), Toyota SUV (KEC-234), Honda Jazz (KDS-302), Isuzu DMAX (YBD-588), Toyota Hi-max (LFW-618), Mitsubishi Lancer (KFE-882), and Toyota Hi-max (XHY-871).

All recovered cars are now undergoing macro-etching to identify them and establish their history. – With Edith Regalado, Ben Serrano