Carjack suspect caught beating red light

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested a suspected carjacker after he allegedly ignored traffic lights and hit several cars as he drove along Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila Sunday night.

Allan Castillo, 33, of Pasay City, was reportedly seen going through red traffic lights as he drove a white Hyundai van (VCM-940), according to Chief Inspector Randy Maluyo, the head of the anti-carnapping section of the Manila Police District.

In his haste to escape the police, Castillo’s van collided with several vehicles, Maluyo added.     

“Castillo reportedly ignored traffic lights, which caught the attention of a patrolling mobile car crew. When he was caught after a brief chase he also smelled of liquor,” Maluyo said.

During questioning, Castillo failed to produce his driver’s license and the car’s registration papers. He later admitted that he was only asked to sell the car to any interested buyer for P30,000 by a certain “Noli del Castro” of Tondo.

Castillo told police he met Del Castro through a friend who invited them for a drink at a bar in Ermita, Manila. He said he was already drunk when Del Castro gave him a car key and told him to look for a buyer for his car, parked outside the bar. He said he agreed but chickened out when he saw a patrolling police car, causing him to drive erratically.

Maluyo does not believe Castillo’s alibi, saying “any person in his right mind would readily think the car is hot if offered for sale for only P30,000.”

The MPD is checking records of the Highway Patrol Group and the Land Transportation Office to determine the real owner of the vehicle.

Aside from car theft, Castillo is also facing charges of driving without license, disregarding traffic lights, driving under influence of liquor and resisting arrest.