No clean getaway for fake cops in hijacking of soap delivery truck

Two of five men who posed as police officers were arrested by authorities after attempting to commandeer a delivery truck near a police checkpoint in Quezon City on Monday night.

The hijacking baffled Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, district director of the Quezon City Police, who said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM on Tuesday that the incident was a first in the city.

Wearing police athletic uniforms and ball caps, Romeo Pacud and his accomplice flagged down a delivery truck driven by Ernesto Oyte along G. Araneta Avenue near Palantoc Street—meters away from a QCPD checkpoint—at about 11 p.m.

The two men then ordered the driver and helper to alight and follow them. The truck was carrying a thousand boxes of soap.

Pagdilao said the victims were not convinced that Pacud’s group were real officers as they wore police uniforms with maong pants (jeans).

Pacud then told the victims to board a white SUV, driven by Pacud’s cohorts.

Sensing something unusual was going on, Oyte and his companion escaped and sought help from policemen manning the checkpoint nearby.

“Immediately, mga pulis natin ay nagrespond kaya na-recover natin itong trak at nahuli itong dalawang suspect,” (Our police immediately responded and recovered the truck and collared the two suspects) Pagdilao said.

The official added that his men seized a caliber 45 pistol, a 9mm pistol, a hand grenade, two athletic police uniforms and two ball caps.

Police are still hunting down three other suspects who managed to escape.

Pagdilao said they were investigating the suspects, who are residents of Valenzuela and Manila.

“Wala tayong cases ng hijacking dito. Ito ‘yung first time,” he said.

Pacud and his cohort will be charged with robbery with hijacking, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, usurpation of authority and illegal use of uniforms and insignia.

They are detained at the Galas police station. CB