‘Penguin’ nabbed in Bulacan by HPG-NCR

One of the most wanted suspected car thieves has been arrested in Bulacan.

According to John Consulta’s report on “24 Oras”, personnel of the Highway Patrol Group in the National Capital Region (HPG-NCR) arrested Michael “Penguin” Habala for allegedly stealing vehicles. 

“Ito pong si ‘Penguin’ ay nainvolved din po sa mga illegal drug trade noong 2018. Ang pinakamodus nitong si Penguin ay kung tawagin natin stolen while parked," HPG-NCR chief Police Lt. Col. Joel Mendoza said.

"Pagna-ipark na po yung mga motor na walang bantay bigla po itong sasalisi,” he added.

Habala, meanwhile, admitted his involvement in illegal drugs.

“Inaamin ko po sir, tapos na po yun. Yung kaso ko po sa drugs po pero ngayon nagbabagong buhay na po ako hindi ko lang po alam, wala po talaga akong ka-ideidea na may ganoong kaso pa po pala ako,” Habala said.

In a separate law enforcement operation, suspect Carl Angelo Lopez Ruiz was also arrested by authorities after he stole a rented SUV in Pampanga.

“Ang hindi niya po pagkakaalam may nakainstall po palang GPS ito. Narecover po ito kaya lang ang problema po medyo may mga kulang kulang na parte na yung sasakyan kaya napilitan po itong mga may ari ng sasakyan na magfile ng carnapping itong si Mr. Ruiz,” Mendoza said.

(What he didn't know was that a GPS was installed. It was recovered but the only problem is that it has some missing parts, so the owners of the car were forced to file a carnapping case against him.)

The suspect, however, declined to give a statement. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA News