Police nab 3 men who tried to sell stolen vehicle

MANILA, Philippines — Three persons were nabbed for trying to sell a stolen vehicle in Paranaque on Monday, a police official said Tuesday.

Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina identified the suspects as Elmer Marcelo, Ernesto Reyes and Nolan Nacional.

Espina said that the suspects were caught while selling a stolen Toyota Fortuner (ZJJ-330) to a lawman who posed as a buyer during a police operation at the Caltex Coastal branch in Baclaran, Paranaque City. HPG spokesman Superintendent Edwin Butacan said that the vehicle was being sold for roughly P180,000.

Authorities conducted the operation after receiving information that the carjacked Toyota Fortuner was being sold, Espina said.

Espina added that the vehicle was owned by a certain Dr. Elizabeth Miranda from Soldiers Hills in Muntinlupa City.

Butacan said that the vehicle was stolen on May 10 at around 5:30 p.m. Espina said that the vehicle was “seized at gunpoint by three unidentified men,” from Miranda’s driver, Dante Nava, while parked in front of St. Michael Clinic at the Zarate Building along National Highway in Nueva village, San Pedro, Laguna.

“The suspects took the driver with them and dropped him off near the Libingan ng Bayani along C5,” Butacan said. He added that they were checking whether the suspects were part of a car theft syndicate.

The suspects will face carnapping charges, said the HPG director.