WPD stops North Harbor hijackers

Officers of the Western Police District (WPD) arrested yesterday two of the four suspected robbers, who hijacked P2.5 million worth of medicines at the North Harbor last week.

After the arrest, police recovered only P400,000 worth of medicines belonging to Zuellig Pharmaceuticals. The two other suspects have apparently sold the rest of the loot.

Police identified the arrested suspects as Walter Biaza, 36, of Capas street, Binondo; and Noel de Jesus, 33, of Zabala street, Tondo, both in Manila. They were arrested at their respective houses.

Police are now hunting down the two other suspects identified only as a certain "Emong," the alleged mastermind of the group and the driver of the hijacked truck, Wilfredo Laum, 38.

Investigation showed that the suspects hijacked the P2.5-million worth of medicines loaded inside a Mitsubishi aluminum van (CSU-998) at the North Harbor last week.

The medicines were taken from a delivery firm on Villaver street, Tambo, Parañaque at 8 a.m. last Sunday, intended to be shipped to Iloilo on June 1.

The firm was hired to deliver the medicines to North Harbor, scheduled for shipment to Iloilo last June 1.

Witness Jerson Corpus, 21, a helper, said that one of the suspects got on the truck and ordered Laum to drive.

Police said Laum drove the truck to Balut, Tondo, where Emong, on board an owner-type jeep, met them. Emong gave Laum P100,000 as commission.

Investigators are now interrogating the arrested suspects for the immediate capture of the other suspects.