PNP forms 14 tracker teams to go after suspected carjackers

HPG spokesperson Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez.

The Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police is optimistic that car theft incidents would be reduced after it formed 14 tracker teams to go after carjacking suspects.

This after the Senate conducted a hearing on rampant crimes against motor vehicles and owners in the country.

“We have 14 tracker teams that would solely concentrate in hunting down target personalities and every week, they need to meet a certain target,” HPG spokesperson Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

“Within this year, we are optimistic that carnapping groups and target personalities will be reduced by at least 50 percent,” she said.

The top three car theft groups operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were Mac Lester, Salvatierra and Landrito carjacking syndicates.

Velasquez said most groups of car thieves are interrelated.

“We were able to get the names of the members of the groups. Nag-family tree na kami kasi magkakamaganak to eh. Halos konektado silang lahat sa isa’t isa (A family tree was formed because they are relatives. All of them are almost connected to each other),” she said.

Compared to the number of motor vehicle cases for year 2013, which was at 1,462, the HPG reported 1,470 cases of car theft in 2014.

Motorcycle theft cases, meanwhile, rose from 10,771 in 2013 to 11,870 in 2014.