Car theft gang leader nabbed in Taguig

MANILA, Philippines - The alleged leader of a car theft gang and his reported henchman were arrested in Taguig City Thursday afternoon.

Jonathan Dimaano, 31, the alleged leader of the Marlboro car theft gang; and Moonderf John Corpuz, 30, did not resist arrest, according to Senior Inspector Joey Prieto of the Taguig police’s intelligence division.

He said a .45 caliber pistol with five bullets was confiscated from Dimaano while a .38 caliber revolver was taken from Corpuz.

The gang is behind a recent rash of car thefts in Taguig and neighboring areas, Prieto said.

Dimaano and Corpuz appeared to be looking for a prospective victim in the vicinity of the Land Transportation Office’s FTI branch in Western Bicutan at past 3 p.m. when an informant tipped off the police, Taguig police chief Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis said.

The gang has been included in the police’s criminal gang watch list, he added.

Prieto appealed to victims of the gang to file formal charges against Dimaano and Corpuz, who are detained at the Taguig police station. – With Non Alquitran