HPG recovers stolen SUV

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) recovered on Monday a sport utility vehicle stolen by four armed men in Mandaluyong two months ago, an official said yesterday.

HPG operatives also arrested Ryan Baliao, reportedly one of the four men, while he was driving the Mitsubishi Montero stolen from John Paul Quirmit, HPG director Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao said.

Police officers from the HPG were conducting a surveillance operation in San Juan, following reports that stolen cars were impounded in the area, when they spotted the Montero, bearing license plate UYO 120, parked along F. Sevilla street, Gunnacao said.

The license plate “was for a Honda City 2012 model and not a Mitsubishi Montero. They immediately arrested the driver,” he told reporters in a press briefing.

Gunnacao said they found that the Montero’s original license plate was WPH-175 and it was registered to Quirmit, who reported the carjacking on June 9.   

The complainant said he was about to go home at around 3 a.m. when he dropped by an automated teller machine to withdraw some money.

Just as he was about to go into his car, four men approached him. One pistol-whipped him on the head and the men sped away with his vehicle.

Baliao is detained at the HPG office at Camp Crame while charges have been filed against him, Gunnacao said.

The HPG opened the Facebook account “HPG recovered and impounded motor vehicles” last month to disseminate information on the stolen cars they have recovered.