7 suspected carjackers nabbed, thanks to GPS

AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Seven suspected carjackers were arrested in Bulacan Monday after a vehicle they have stolen was located by authorities through Global Positioning System (GPS), the Bulacan Provincial Police Office (PPO) said in a report Tuesday.

The stolen vehicle, a white Mitsubishi L300 FB Deluxe with plate number TQT 694 owned by Saint Peter Life Plans, was found being dismantled by the suspects in Purok (area) 1, Barangay (village) Sapang Bayan, Calumpit, after police zeroed in on its location through GPS.

Superintendent Edwin Quilates, Chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), identified the suspects as Eduardo Lagman, 47, Bong Bong Torres, 42, Jerry Felipe, 18, Erick de Guzman, 18, Rodel Solpicio, 27, Maria Luisa Samonte, 30, and Analisa, Calimon, 22.

Quilates said that the crime took place between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. at the Saint Peter Chapel in Cogeo, Antipolo Monday while it was parked unattended. Rolly Adviento, Manager for Fleet Operations of Saint Peter Life Plans, immediately reported the incident to the Bulacan police.

Police immediately used the GPS on the vehicle to determine its location and to conduct follow-up operations. They found the vehicle in a high-fenced residence in the middle of a rice field as it was being taken down to pieces using acetylene blow torch, Quilates said.

The suspects fled in different directions on seeing the police and were later found “hiding under water lilies in a shallow pond,” he said in the report.

Also found in the safe house were a public utility jeep (PUJ) with plate number TCX 857, acetylene tanks, several fuel tanks believed to be from L300 vehicles, and other L300 parts believed to be from previously stolen vehicles.

“As per initial information provided by the suspects, the PUJ was being used by the group in transporting the vehicle parts to Capalangan, Apalit, Pampanga and to Banawe, Quezon City,” Quilates said.

Further investigation showed “that a certain Dingdong Torres of Capalangan, Apalit, Pampanga, is the leader of the group while the owner of the safe house is a certain Carmeling Agulto of Hagonoy, Bulacan,” Quilates added.

The suspects and confiscated pieces of evidence are in the custody of the Bulacan PIB while the appropriate charges are being prepared against them as well as the leader and owner of the safe house, Quilates said.