Cordi cops neutralize carnap group; 14 motorcycles found

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- Cordillera police arrested last week the alleged leader and financer of a carnapping group operating in Baguio City and Benguet.

This, while another carnapper and two buyers  of stolen motorcycles were also nabbed while 14 stolen motorcycles were recovered on July 21.

The  two suspects identified as Josete Longbabe Carantes, 22, of Lubas, La Trinidad and Jerson Mariano Remegio, 20, of San Pascual, Tuba,  were arrested at Topdac, Atok, all towns in Benguet while their two other cohorts evaded arrest.

Four motorcycles were recovered by the operatives from the suspects.

The arrested suspects pinpointed their two other companions, identified as Merlon Inso Thomas, 31, the alleged financier, buyer, and distributor of stolen motorcycles  and Reymund Sudkey Wayas 32, farmer, who were arrested in their homes in Topdac, Atok.

Two detached motorcycles were also recovered from them.

Prior to their arrest, joint operatives of La Trinidad Municipal Police Station led by the chief of police, chief Insp. Benson B. Macli-ing, Baguio Station 7 cops led by Chief Insp. Marlon Evasco, Station 10 police led by Senior Insp. De Vera and members of Highway Patrol unit planned the series of operations after a series of motorcycle theft in La Trinidad and Baguio City.

In a follow up operation at Apugan, Tuba, Benguet, another suspect named as Jay Juan Rivera, 30, laborer, of Irisan, Baguio City was arrested after a stolen motorcycle was recovered from his possession.

On the same day, one Rouser, one RUSI and one Yamaha motorcycles were  recovered at the house of Thomas at Topdac.

On the following day, July 22, operatives conducted manhunt operation at Apugan, Baguio City, that led to the arrest of Ronell Inso Salipan, 28, of Pula, Apugan, Baguio City, the alleged new leader of the newly identified carnapping group operating in Baguio and Benguet.

He was reportedly the the cohort of Carantes and Remegio who evaded arrest on July 21. 

Meanwhile, Macli-ing negotiated with George Neupe Bay-osan, Lupon member of Topdac, through phone call, for him to convince his three constituents to surrender three carnapped motorcycle allegedly sold to them by Thomas.

As a result of the negotiation, a Rouser, one Rusi and Yamaha were turned over to authorities.

A case of four counts of carnapping was filed by police against Carantes, Remegio, Salipan and Thomas with no bail recommended.

Meanwhile, a case for violation of Presidential Decree 1612 known as Anti-Fencing Law was filed against Rivera and Wayas with recommended bail bond of P34, 000 and P26, 000 respectively.

Another two counts of carnapping was filed against Carantes, Remegio, Salipan, Thomas, a certain Kethley/Keith Lee and a Jane Doe.

All arrested suspects and seized motorcycles are now under custody of concerned operating police units.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Rolando Nana said neutralization of the members of this carnapping group led to solution of series of motorcycle theft incidents within in Baguio and Benguet. 

Nana congratulated and awarded operating units during “distinguished visitors program” Monday in Camp Dangwa.

Nana urged to public to report information on crime like carnapping to the nearest police station for immediate action.“The collective efforts of the public and police personnel will lead to the immediate solution of cases,” he said.