Carjacker steals Navy officer’s vehicle

A suspected carjacker who stole a retired Navy officer’s car was arrested in Bulacan a few hours after he committed the crime Monday afternoon in Quezon City.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) anti-carjacking chief Inspector Angelo Nicolas said the incident involved a gray Ford Everest with license plate RBS-627, owned by Orville Cruzata, 47, a retired member of the Philippine Navy.

Nicolas told The STAR that Cesar Poso, 31, could be a member of the Salisi carjacking group.

In a report, Nicolas said the incident occurred at past noon Monday in front of the Central Terminal at the corner of EDSA and Quezon Avenue.

Cruzata was then with a companion who was about to board a bus. The vehicle’s engine was left running while the two were unloading some things from the car.

It was at that point that the suspect took the vehicle.

Cruzata immediately reported the incident to the police.

He claimed that he last saw his vehicle heading north. QCPD and Bulacan police officers spotted the carjacked vehicle while it was traversing McArthur Highway in Balagtas, Bulacan.

Poso was eventually apprehended after a brief chase, according to Nicolas. He said Poso and the recovered vehicle were brought to the Camp Karingal for investigation.

Nicolas said the Salisi carjacking group has been active since 1993 and operating in Metro Manila and Region 3.

This year, the gang has allegedly stolen 24 vehicles, Nicolas said. – Reinir Padua, Kristina Aklan, Kalvin Capuno