Former cop, 2 others nabbed for carjacking

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga  -  Three suspected ‘carjackers,’ one of them a former police officer, were arrested by the Highway Patrol Group-3 last week during a follow up operation in Bulacan and Quezon City, police here reported.

Police identified the suspects as former Police Officer-1 Ronaldo Mangalin, 42, last assigned at the Quezon City Police District, Von Brian Bravante, alias Von-Von and Zoralita Brava, 43.         

The members of a carjackers gang were arrested in the intensified anti-carnapping operation of HPG3 in Central Luzon, according to Senior Supt. Amador V Corpus, HPG3 chief.

Corpus said that while the Bulacan Highway Team were conducting a checkpoint along the Dona Remedios Trinidad Highway, they flagged down a white Toyota Innova without plate numbers and a conduction sticker.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop and instead sped off the car going towards San Miguel, Bulacan, prompting the Highway Patrol personnel to chase the vehicle. Unfortunately, it managed to elude the pursuing policemen.

Police said the Toyota Innova was stolen at gunpoint in Imus, Cavite by three unidentified suspects armed with .45 caliber pistols, last week.

However, in a follow-up operation, the HGP3 personnel arrested the suspects at their safehouse in Barangay Bag-bag, Novaliches, Quezon City according to Corpus.

Recovered from the suspects were two.45 caliber pistols with two magazines, one bonnet, two cellular phones and a shoulder bag with different identification cards.

The owner of the vehicle positively identified the two suspects.

The suspects are now detained at the Highway Patrol Team in Malolos City while charges for violation of the Anti-Carnapping Law were filed in court against them.