2 cops, 3 others nabbed for car theft

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) arrested two policemen and three civilians and confiscated from them 13 suspected stolen vehicles and motorcycles during a weeklong drive.

Those arrested were Senior Police Officer 3 Alfonso Nuevas, 49; PO2 Rolando Manipolo, 28; Florentino Arcilla Jr., 33; Richard Decano, 31, and Miguel Gonzales, 23, a motor technician.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales vowed to initiate dismissal proceedings against Nuevas, a Manila policeman, and Manipolo, who is assigned to the Caloocan City police.

He said the arrest of the suspects is related to the raid at the compound of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City, where several suspects and a sack full of fake documents were recovered.

Rosales vowed that there will be no let-up in the NCRPO’s drive against car thieves operating in Metro Manila.

Arcilla and Decano were arrested at their respective houses, both in Cubao, Quezon City. Arcilla yielded a Mitsubishi Delica (RAC-249) and a Hyundai Starex ( ZJB-478).

Seized from Decano were a Ford Lynx (RAL-214), a Honda Civic (ZCB-448), a Mitsubishi Adventure (ZNN 473), a Nissan Urban (ZRB-834), and a Mitsubishi L-300 van (ZHP-682).

A subsequent follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of the two policemen and Gonzales.

Recovered from Nuevas were a white Yamaha Mio Sporty (RH3614), a black Honda XRM 125 (9988EE), as well as a black Yamaha Mio-2 Sporty and a silver Honda XRM RS, both with no license plates.

Manipolo and Gonzales yielded a black Yamaha ZR and black Yamaha Sporty Mio with no license plates.

Rosales ordered the filing of car theft and fencing charges against the suspects before the Manila prosecutor’s office. – Non Alquitran