NPD nabs ex-Armyman for computer parts hijack

Northern Police District (NPD) agents busted a well-entrenched hijacking group, led by a former military man, operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, with the arrest Tuesday of the group’s alleged leader and three of its members in a series of operations in Navotas and Caloocan City.

Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, NPD director, identified the suspects as Rafael Sukayan, 45, an ex-militaryman, of Phase 6, Little Baguio, Miramonte Heights, Caloocan City; Joseil Villanueva, 25, of C-4 Road, Barangay Tanong, Malabon City, Bantres Cachero, 34, of Barangay Sipak, Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas, and Johnny Duran, alias Boyaks also of Barangay Sipak, Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas.

Villanueva, according to Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., NPD-DPIU chief, has a standing warrant for his arrest in Malabon City for robbery, while Duran or Boyaks, is also wanted for robbery with homicide and frustrated homicide cases and is listed as the NPD’s number two most wanted man.

Last Feb. 16, a 40-footer container van (PKT-703), owned by South Eastern-E Trucking with office address along C-3 Road in Navotas, was reportedly hijacked by at least seven heavily armed men while it was traversing Doña Juana Rodriguez Avenue in New Manila, Quezon City at around 3:40 a.m. South Eastern-E Trucking owner, Irene Tabucal, 45, said that the truck, driven by Ranilo Limato, 25, was about to deliver computer monitors amounting to some P6 million to Lamco International Trading Co. Inc. warehouse located at 1 Jenny’s Avenue, Pasig City when it was seized by the suspects.

Limato said the hijackers were aboard two vehicles, a gray Toyota Revo and a white Mazda and were armed with shotguns and short firearms. Tabucal believed that the hijacking was real as told by Limato, her company’s driver for two years, but last Tuesday, fearing for his life, Limato told it all to the police and Tabucal.

Limato said that the hijacking was just a "stage play" and that he was part of the plan, allegedly masterminded by Sukayan, together with his brother-in-law whom he identified as Joel Mendoza. Mendoza went missing for the past few days that according to Limato was abducted and killed by Sukayan’s group.

"Ako na po ang isusunod kaya nagsumbong ako sa pulis (I’m next to be killed that’s why I reported to the police)," Limato told The STAR.

Joint elements of the NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit led by Ramos and the Caloocan police Station Intelligence and Investigation Division led by Superintendent Dionicio Borromeo conducted a series of operations Tuesday resulting in the suspects arrest and the seizure of 12 bullets of a caliber .38 revolver, several pieces of holsters, ammunition holders and a camouflage military uniform.

The suspects were turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame.

The cargo and the truck remained missing and according to Limato five of their cohorts are still at large.

Meanwhile, an alleged leader of the notorious Estribo Gang, released from prison only recently and is under conditional parole, was arrested Tuesday by the CIDG-Northern Field Office operatives under Superintendent Gene Ines Abrajano.

Jesus Buenaagua, 40, of Samlet street, Letre Road, Malabon City, was apprehended after he reportedly confronted his neighbor, Rodney Abas, 32, with a caliber .38 revolver when he was asked for the payment of 5 kilos of rice he owed from Abas.