Zero incidents recorded since carjacker’s arrest

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) reported yesterday zero carjacking incidents in the city since the arrest of rogue cop PO2 Arnold Adto in Bocaue, Bulacan last March 29.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan said his men are vigorously pursuing cases against Adto, whose arrest has forced his cohorts "to lie low while the heat is on."

"What is significant is that there have been no carjacking cases in Quezon City since the arrest of Adto, tagged as the leader of a carjacking gang operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

According to Radovan, his men have the list of Adto’s "contact persons," which had been taken by the Intelligence Group (IG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from a cell phone confiscated from his possession at the time of his arrest.

"We have the names of people he was frequently in contact with. We are exploiting this in the hope of getting his accomplices in his gang’s illegal activities like carjacking," said Superintendent James Brillantes, QCPD intelligence officer.

Brillantes admitted they are hot on the trail of a police senior inspector (captain) and three enlisted personnel believed to be the cohorts of Adto in carjacking operations.

"His cohorts appeared to have lied low, thinking that Adto would spill the beans on them," he said.

Brillantes said the two-week lull in carjacking incidents in Quezon City only confirms reports that the gang is behind the rash of criminal activities.

However, the QCPD intelligence chief pointed out that there were four parked vehicles stolen during the said period.

Adto was arrested on board a Five Star bus near the Bocaue exit of the North Expressway last March 29. He was on his way to his hometown in Capas, Tarlac.

The officer was tagged in the carjacking of a Toyota Fortuner last March 25 and a Toyota Hi Lux four days later in Quezon City.

Two of Adto’s accomplices in the carjacking of the Fortuner were slain in a shootout with a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of the Rodriguez, Rizal police last April 1.

Brillantes said Adto, a member of the Doce Pares gang, composed of active policemen, is facing numerous carjacking cases not only in Metro Manila, but also in the provinces of Central and Southern Luzon.

His total bail bond is now at P1 million.

Brillantes said the Traffic Management Group (TMG) in Pampanga had also coordinated with him and pinned down Adto in a carjacking case early this year.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., intelligence chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said summary dismissal proceedings against Adto is now underway.

"We are still conducting a record check against him so additional charges could be initiated," Rojas said.

QCPD’s verification with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) revealed that Adto also faces murder cases in Tarlac and in Nueva Ecija as well as estafa cases in Manila and Pasay City.

"He is involved in several types of cases all over Luzon," said Brillantes.

Adto is currently detained at the QCPD custodial cell in Camp Karingal. – Non Alquitran