Arrested estafa, carnapping suspect targeting casino players

The Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested a suspect wanted for estafa and carnapping during an undercover operation, according to a "24 Oras" report by John Consulta.

PNP Region 4A said the suspect reportedly often victimized casino players who need money, and convinced them to sell their vehicles.

“Ang ginawa pala nitong suspect natin is tinangay ang isang sasakyan at kanyang binenta and yung napagbentahan niya dahil nga ito ay nagtatrabaho sa isang car dealer company… Ang masama pa yung company service car na pinapagamit sa kanya is tinangay din niya and kanya rin itong binenta,” said PNP Region 4A Regional Director Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas.

(What our suspect did was steal a car and then sell it, and the person he sold it to worked at a car dealer company… The bad thing here is that the company service car that they were using had also been stolen and sold by the suspect.)

“Naglalagi sa mga casino and kanyang minamanmanan kung sino yung mga natatalo at ang ginagawa niya ay nilalapitan niya ito at tinatanong kung may sasakyan yung natalo sa casino at kanya itong kinakausap para ibenta yung sasakyan,” he added.

(He frequents casinos and he observes whoever is losing, and what he would do is approach them and ask if they have cars to convince them to sell it.)

One of his victims shared that the suspect had caused distress to many other victims.

“Sobrang stress po yung inabot ko sa kanya kasi at the same time, ang dami pong tumawag, nag-message po sa page na ginawa niya rin ng mali. Sobrang dami niya pong naperwisyo talaga,” shared victim Ellie, whose car was among those that were allegedly stolen by the suspect.

(I experienced so much stress because of him because at the same time, there were so many other victims of his that called and messaged our page. He really caused damage to so many people.)

The suspect, who is detained in Biñan, Laguna, is currently facing no-bail cases for carnapping and estafa. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News