AWOL cop caught driving stolen car

MANILA, Philippines — A policeman absent without official leave (AWOL) was arrested after he was caught driving a stolen car in Quezon City on Sunday night.

Pat. John Rey Bautista was nabbed along with his cohorts Albert Hipolito, 46; Christopher Orosco, 39, and Roderick Sarang, 43.

Probers said Bautista was spotted driving along Tomas Morato street a 2018 Mitsubishi Montero, which was reported stolen by its owner, a retired US Army member.

Bautista was previously assigned with the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of the National Capital Region Police Office at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig.

According to a police report, the Montero and a Mitsubishi Mirage were rented for P22,000 by Joanna Mae Turingan in Silang, Cavite on Thursday.

The cars were supposed to be returned by Turingan the following day.

The complainant told police that on Friday, the GPS tracking device of the vehicles were turned off, prompting him to seek assistance from the authorities.

Police traced the Montero through its back-up GPS in Quezon City, which led to the arrest of the suspects. 

A Toyota Avanza believed to be stolen by the suspects was also recovered by police.