Carnap gang’s right-hand man falls

Agents of the Northern Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (Northern-CIDG) arrested the alleged right-hand man of a notorious car theft and robbery holdup gang yesterday in Malabon City.

Superintendent Simon Fernan III, Northern-CIDG chief, identified the suspect as Edgardo "Jojo" Tagalog, 22, of Barangay Longos in Malabon.

Police tagged Tagalog as the trusted man of a crime group headed by a certain "Nognog," who is reportedly operating not only in the northern part of Metro Manila but also in Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna.

Tagalog, also known as "master key" for his ability to unlock all kinds of cars, was apprehended at around 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Pampano and Hito streets in Barangay Longos.

Senior Inspector Francis Gordon and PO3 Dandie Bonita along with two other CIDG agents, armed with an arrest warrant for frustrated murder, cornered the suspect while aboard a red Kawasaki motorcycle with license plates UL-5247.

The arrest warrant was issued by Malabon City Regional Trial Court Branch 74 Judge Rosa Reyes dated March 12, 2004.

Interviewed in his cell, Tagalog denied involvement in any criminal activity. He claimed he is only Nognog’s driver and is not aware that his boss is engaged in criminal activities.

Tagalog added that he just arrived from Tanay, Rizal when Northern-CIDG agents arrested him.

Gordon, however, said that Tagalog was linked to at least 10 cases of car theft and robbery in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area and has been the subject of a month-long surveillance operation.

He said he is confident that with Tagalog’s arrest, Nognog would soon follow. "We will get him soon," he said.