Cops arrest 2 men in Paranaque for alleged carnapping

Two men aboard an SUV were apprehended in Parañaque City for alleged carnapping, Marisol Abdurahman reported on “24 Oras”.

Members of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Anti-Carnapping unit flagged down the vehicle of  Laim Ali Maronsing and Jovy Cebuano, after receiving information that an SUV with replaced license plate and armed passengers were roving the area.

“May nagreport sa amin na sa area na yan may isang Montero na iba yung plaka na nakakabit tapos allegedly armado. Kita na namin na kaduda-duda 'yung galaw nila. Don na namin sila pinababa,” NCRPO-ANCAR chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Erwin Legayada said.

(Someone reported to us that a Montero with a different plate and armed passengers was in the area. We saw their movements and it was suspicious. That was when we flagged them.)

An inspection of the vehicle confirmed it was bearing the wrong license plate and had no official receipt or certificate of registration. Also seized from the vehicle is an unlicensed Glock .40 caliber firearm.

“Sa anti-carnapping law, pag pinalitan mo 'yung identity ng sasakyan, 'yung plate number, pwede siyang makasuhan. Illegal transfer of plate,” Legayada said.

(Under anti-carnapping law, if you change the identity of the vehicle, or the license plate, you can be held accountable. That's an illegal transfer.)

Meanwhile, a brief chase between the police and Maronsing ensued after the driver of the vehicle tried to escape during the inspection. It was found the suspect did not have a driver’s license either.

“Natakot lang ako eh. 'Yung sasakyan na 'yun, nirerentahan ko sa kaibigan ko. Then hiniram po ng isang kaibigan ko naman, pinalitan ng plaka,” Maronsing said.

(I got scared. I rented the vehicle from a friend. Then another friend borrowed it and changed the license plate.)

“Sumama lang ako sa kaniya sa pagbili ng gamot,” Cebuano said.

(I went out with him to buy medicine.)

Police said it now has a lead on the group’s activities. It is still investigating, however, if the suspects belong to other groups involved in carnapping and other illegal activities.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News