A black sports utility vehicle (SUV) was stolen from a carwash shop in Barangay Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga, triggering a police chase along Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) road.
Authorities caught the suspects when their vehicle was stuck in traffic.
According to Police Major Don Kenneth Asuncion, Sub-Station 2 Commander of the City of San Fernando Police Station, the SUV owner had just parked the vehicle to line up for a wash when the incident happened.
“Base po sa imbestigasyon… ipapa-carwash po sana niya ‘yung [SUV]. Pagkaparada niya at matapos pumila para ipalinis, naghugas po siya ng kamay sandali. Maya-maya, pagtalikod niya, nakita na lang niya na umaatras na ang [SUV],” Asuncion said.
When the victim tried to stop the suspects, they pointed a gun at him.
“Sumabit po siya sa sasakyan at pilit niyang inabot ang susi para i-turn off ito, ngunit hindi niya nagawa. Nagkaroon po siya ng bali sa kanyang kaliwang kamay,” Asuncion added.
The suspects, both from Pangasinan and aged 34 and 44, claimed they were working for a financing group assigned to recover unpaid vehicles.
“Nung tinanong po natin ang mga suspek, sinasabi po nila na miyembro sila ng isang financing group, pero wala naman po silang maipakitang ID o anumang pagkakakilanlan. Ang sinabi nila, inutusan daw po sila na i-recover ang sasakyan dahil ayon sa nag-utos sa kanila, hindi na raw ito nabayaran,” Asuncion explained.
Police recovered a .45 caliber firearm and a magazine with nine bullets from the suspects.
They now face charges of carnapping, grave threat, serious physical injury, and violation of the Omnibus Election Code.
Authorities are investigating whether the suspects had accomplices in the crime.
