Car thieves nabbed in Quezon City

Operatives of the Quezon City Police District Intelligence Division-Anti-Carnapping Unit busted a carjacking syndicate involved in at least 16 cases of car theft in Metro Manila.

Two of five suspected car thieves belonging to the syndicate were nabbed the other night in a car chase that began in Quezon City and ended in Sta. Quiteria in Caloocan City.

In his report to Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr. said the DIID under Superintendent Roger James Brillantes arrested Ernesto Sagabaen, alias Mark Reyes, 42, a businessman from Marikina City; and Rolando Gache, 22, of Caloocan City.

Police are still tracking down three other suspects who fled on foot after abandoning their vehicle.

The police crackdown was launched after the men forcibly took the Nissan Patrol car of Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City.

Ceasar Elivazo, 46, driver of the Nissan Patrol with license plate XRM-620, told police investigators that three men took the car from him at gunpoint in front of a drug store along Visayas Avenue. The suspects later dropped him off in Barangay Baesa.

A general alarm was flashed and a checkpoint was set up to block the possible exit, which resulted in an encounter with the suspects.

The arrest came as Radovan directed police precinct commanders to be on double red alert against car thieves because the three-strike policy is now being implemented at the police precinct level.

"Three carjacking cases will be ground for relief of precinct commanders," Radovan said.

The Quezon City police have implemented a barangay anti-carnapping campaign, which involves the mobilization of barangay officials and residents in the anti-crime drive.

The campaign resulted in the recovery of a Mitsubishi Adventure along Alvero St. in Loyola Heights, Quezon City on Wednesday.

Residents alerted the police about the presence of a ehicle abandoned at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday.