Operatives of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) nabbed on Monday six cohorts of a suspected car thief who asked to “road test” a newly bought vehicle but never returned it to its owner.
In a report sent to the media on Wednesday, QCPD identified the suspects as Jessa Rivera, 26, and her sibling Rizza Rivera, 30, of Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; Jamluding Arimao, 33, of Quiapo, Manila; Alinor Mangalang, 25, of Barangay Bahay Toro; Caira Disomimba, 30, of Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina City; and Amir Gunting Jr., 26, of Sampaloc, Manila.
The report said that last August 9, the victim, identified as Rodolfo Balingit of Barangay Bagbag, bought a brand new Toyota Fortuner through the help of a certain Intan Camama, whom he claimed as his friend in a social media site.
The next day, Camama and an unidentified companion went to Balingit’s house to “road test” the vehicle.
Since then, Camama failed to return the vehicle and rejected the calls from Balingit.
The victim reported the incident to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) after he learned that his car was posted on Facebook for sale.
The victim posed as a buyer and agreed to meet with the sellers at Toyota Quezon Avenue Branch where the authorities arrested the Rivera sisters, Arimao, and Mangalang.
Balingit identified Mangalang as Camama’s companion during the “road test” of his vehicle.
The same operatives from the CIDU conducted a follow-up operation that led to the arrest of Gunting and Disomimba, who called the younger Rivera during the custodial investigation.
A manhunt is on against Camama who remains at large, police said.
The suspects face charges of Violation of R.A. 10883 (Anti-Carnapping Law) and Estafa. /ee