3 men in stolen gov’t vehicle nabbed in QC—police

MANILA, Philippines—Three alleged car thieves were nabbed in Quezon City early Monday after they were found to be using a government vehicle that was stolen near a mall last month.

The three suspects—Francisco Mendoza, 32, Romar Mendoza, 30, and Joel Pagsibigan, 33, all residents of Caloocan City—were inside a white Mitsubishi Adventure parked at the corner of Malindang and CDC streets in Barangay NS Amoranto at around 4:30 a.m. when they caught the eye of patrolling policemen.

Supt. Lino Banaag of the La Loma police station said the policemen noticed the Asian utility vehicle parked in a dimly lit area of the street and decided to conduct a spot check.

But when accosted by the officers, the suspects began to appear restless and evaded the policemen’s questions, Banaag said. The suspects also failed to present the AUV’s original receipt and certificate of registration, he added.

Banaag said the suspects eventually caved in and admitted to the policemen that the AUV, with government plate SKA 527, was stolen near the SM Centerpoint last November.

Police are conducting follow-up operations to determine if the suspects were part of a bigger car theft gang and, if they were, capture their cohorts.