The General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) has maintained that the response to a carnapping incident on December 5, 2025 followed standard operating procedures.

The office issued a statement following reactions from netizens who questioned the manner of the arrest.

Video footage showed that during the response operation, police officers were seen smashing the windows of the stolen vehicle with stones and firearms after cornering it in Barangay Fatima on Friday, December 5, 2025.

GSCPO said the actions of responding officers were necessary to subdue the suspect who refused to step out of the vehicle.

“Ing-ana gyud na kay ang inyong nakita kadto ra man ang video nga kato nga part pero rest assured nga naningkamot gyud ang atong kapulisan,” GSCPO Director, Col. Nicomedes Olaivar, Jr., said.

Police claimed that the suspect rammed the vehicle of the responding officers.

“Ang pagresponde sa RMB-12, ila tung gi-blockan, gibanggaan ang ilang  sakyanan, gi-atrasan, daghan ka after atu nga maligsan niya mao tong na-damage maayo ang sakyanan, kadtung dili na gyud siya, muhunong nabanggaaan na atung sakyanan didto mao tung ila na gyud nga gipaningkamutan nga  mahunong na gayud kay kaysa maka-damage pa og ubang sakyanan makabangga. Instinct gihapon to save lives and property,” Olaivar said.

During the operation, the suspect identified as a painter was arrested and reportedly admitted to stealing the vehicle.

It was learned that the suspect was a former employee of the owner of the vehicle that he stole.

“Ay gikarnap to nako to. Mao nang gina-ingon nato nga ang tawong bastos, naa gyud atong padulgan kumbaga naa gyud silot ang Ginoo,” the suspect said.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the owner of the vehicle for a statement, as of this writing.

Police said the suspect was fired from his job due to alleged drug addiction, according to the vehicle’s owner.

Meanwhile, the suspect also responded when asked why he did not step down immediately after he was cornered.

“Maayo tang naa ta sa sulod, aron matestingan kung ang sakyanan lig-on ba. Dili man lig-un, gabok…,” the suspect added.

Police added that the suspect will be subjected to medical examination to determine his mental condition.

“I-determine na sa court, ipa-medical mana siya kung naa bay history, naa ba isya illusion interval,” Olaivar said.

The suspect is facing charges for carnapping and reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property.