Helper foils hijacking in Valenzuela; 4 arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Four men were caught in the act of unloading P162,000 worth of canned products from a truck they hijacked in Valenzuela City Monday after a helper they held captive managed to hide his cell phone from them and call his boss.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said suspects Ricardo Centeno, 63; Arturo Maniclang, 54; Ronaldo Legaspi, 30; and Darwin Lestojas, 21, were transferring the products from the truck to a blue Anfra Asian utility vehicle (TET-138) and a passenger jeepney (CLJ-406) along East Canumay Road when they were collared by his men at around 4 p.m. Monday.

 The truck, driven by Darwin Haboc, left Midtown Village in Cainta, Rizal at around 10 a.m. Monday with cargo due for delivery to a mall in Valenzuela City.

Haboc said the truck (RJC-601) developed engine trouble four hours later, prompting him to stop along East Canumay Road in Valenzuela. He left the vehicle in the care of helper Carmelo Handugan to buy the spare parts they needed.

Not long after Haboc left, the suspects arrived on the two vehicles. They grabbed Handugan and forced him into the Anfra. Handugan had managed to hide his cell phone and called the truck’s owner, Rafael Altamera, and reported the hijacking.

Senior Superintendent Pedro Cabatingan, chief of the CIDG’s Anti-Organized Crime Division, said the suspects surrendered and admitted their crime. They are being held at the AOCD office while hijacking charges are being readied against them.

Cabatingan said Monday’s hijacking is the second incident reported by Alamera. The first incident occurred March 22.

The CIDG is looking into the possibility that the suspects in Monday’s hijacking are the same ones who staged the first heist.