Firm loses P800,000 worth of fuel to 8 men dressed as policemen

Eight men wearing police uniforms and carrying high-powered firearms hijacked a truck carrying around P800,000 worth of fuel in Quezon City on Saturday.

Senior Police Officer 2 Christopher Ronquillo of the theft and robbery section of the Quezon City Police District said the hijacking took place at around 10 p.m. at the corner of D. Tuazon and Dapitan streets.

The truck (with license plate UVC 592), which belonged to Prometheum Trucking Services, was carrying some 20,000 liters of fuel worth around P800,000 when its path was blocked by a Toyota Revo.

Eight men then got out of the van and ordered the truck driver, Edwin Mandawe, 38, and his helper Willy Mesina, 36, to alight from their vehicle.

Based on the statements Mandawe and Mesina gave to the police, the eight men were carrying high-powered firearms. They were wearing light blue T-shirts and black jackets with the word “Police” printed on them.

The victims said they were handcuffed and blindfolded with handkerchiefs. They were then ordered to go back inside the truck as some of the men took over the vehicle.

They added that after driving around for a while, the truck stopped and the armed men told them to get off. They said they later found out that they were in Vitas, Tondo, Manila.

The victims said they were on their way to Valenzuela City from the Pandacan oil depots when the hijacking occurred.