Driver, 4 pals nabbed for theft

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – A driver and his four companions were arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing the contents of their delivery truck and reporting that they were victimized by highway robbers in Bamban town, an official said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Melvin Ramon Buenafe, regional police deputy director for operation, identified the suspects as Jerryme del Rosario, 35, and his cohorts Cedric Banawag, 43; Arnel Calauag, 57; Gerardo Calauag, 34, and Richard Tan, 32.

Buenafe said last Sept. 30, the owner of Nericon Trucking reported that his truck (CWK-648), which was loaded with 27,890 kilos of soya bean meal worth P836,700, was hijacked in Bamban.

The truck, which came from Subic, was supposed to deliver goods in Barangay Virgin delos Remedios.

The complainant said the truck was pulled over at a checkpoint in front of a police station for violation of the seat belt policy.

Investigators found out the truck was parked beside a warehouse, where 83 sacks of soya bean meal were recovered in a subsequent search.

The warehouse owner told police the items were reportedly sold to a piggery farm owned in Capas, Tarlac and in Magalang, Pampanga.