5 carnap syndicate suspects arrested in Nueva Ecija

By Franco G. Regala

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga --Five suspected members of a carnapping syndicate group operating in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, and other parts of Central Luzon and Northern Luzon were arrested during an anti-crime police operation in Barangay Sto. Cristo, Guimba, Nueva Ecija Sept. 19.

Chief Supt. Rudy G. Lacadin, Police Regional Office-3 acting director, identified the suspect as Melchor Palma Lu, 27, of Barangay Sta. Veronica, Guimba, Nueva, Ecija; Matthew Jerome Aranca Ortiz, 24, married, of Barangay Sto Cristo, Guimba, Nueva Ecija; John Marvin Robert MagtulakParocha, 21, of Barangay Quirino District, Talugtog, Nueva Ecija; Patrick Domingo Macaraeg, 19, of Barangay Magsaysay, Talugtog, Nueva Ecija and Girard Manuel Castillo Banta, 19, of Brgy Aurora Hill, Baguio City.

They were nabbed by joint operatives of Guimba Municipal Police Station and Regional Public Safety Battalion 3 of said area.

Recovered from the suspects were a stolen Toyota Innova with Plate No. AHM-939; a plastic bottle containing suspected “shabu;” an M-16 rifle, and other effects.

It was learned that Melchor Lu is in the watch list of drug personalities of the Guimba MPS while Matthew Jerome Ortiz is linked by police to motorcycle thefts in three provinces.