The Provincial Highway Patrol Team (PHPT) in Negros Oriental, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, has arrested three suspected carnappers as they embarked from an inter-island vessel coming from Cebu on or about 10:15 p.m. Sunday.
PHPT provincial team leader Sr. Insp. Robelito Mariano identified the three suspects as Jason Louis Bandoy of Bacong; Joefren Elorta Pis-an from Dauin and Ronel Yu Domen of Valencia, all in Negros Oriental, for violation of RA 10883 or the anti-carnapping law as amended and RA 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002.
According to Mariano, the three rented a Mitsubishi Montero from a rent-a-car in Bagacay, Dumaguete City, whose registered owner is Caroline T. Yanzon, last October 4, 2017 and for 17 days they failed to return it despite pleadings from the owner.
They were contacted by the owner to return the vehicle but to no avail, prompting the owner to have it recorded in the blotter of the highway patrol team as being carnapped.
The SUV was intercepted at the port of Dumaguete.
Mariano said the whereabouts of the suspects had been tracked via GPS.
During tactical interrogation, illegal drugs paraphernalia including a digital weighing scale were allegedly recovered from the vehicle, Mariano disclosed.
Further investigations showed that Bandoy had a previous case for violations of the anti-drugs law but was dismissed. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)