Car of MMDA official’s daughter taken by armed men in QC

By Ronron
September 17, 2007

The car of the daughter of an official of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was the latest target of carjackers in Metro Manila after it was successfully seized by four suspects on Monday morning.

Police said the Starex van (plate number ZGZ-711) of Csarina Rose de Dios, daughter of MMDA Traffic Operations Center Director Angelito Vergel de Dios, was being washed at the Boom Carwash along Visayas Avenue in Barangay Vasra, Quezon City when forcibly taken by four armed men.

The incident happened at around 10:15 am yesterday, said PO3 Ted Bacolod of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Anti-Carnapping Unit.

At the time, Bacolod said only Paul Anthony Calimag, 35, an MMDA driver, was in charge of the vehicle as the younger de Dios was not around.

Bacolold said two of the four suspects first came up to Calimag. When the driver resisted, the remaining two suspects arrived, forcing him to give in to the pressure. Calimag claimed to police that each suspect was armed with a short firearm.

The four then drove off towards the north direction, bringing along Calimag. Calimag said he was released unharmed somewhere in Valenzuela City, as the suspects headed most probably to Region III area.

A follow up operation is now ongoing, said Bacolod.

“We would like to remind the public to take extra caution because carjacking incidents are now happening during daytime. They should always be aware of their surroundings, watch out for suspicious people or vehicles nearby,” Bacolod said.

Quezon City was once tagged as the carnapping capital of the Philippines due to several cases reported./DMS