Four suspected car thieves of the van of MMDA exec’s daughter nabbed in San Juan

By Ronron
September 18, 2007

Police have apprehended four men who were said to be responsible for the carjacking Monday of the van of the daughter of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Operations Center Director Angelito Vergel de Dios.

The four were nabbed at around 9pm Monday in San Juan, Metro Manila, less than 12 hours since they forcibly took the black Hyundai Starex van of Czarina Rose de Dios, 26, at a carwash shop along Visayas Avenue in Barangay Vasra, Quezon City.

Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Chief Supt. Perfecto Palad presented the four yesterday before the media at Camp Crame, along with the firearms seized from them and the recovered van, and another vehicle they also purportedly stole.

The four were identified as Dennis Ignacio, alias Daga; Eduardo Bonifacio; Edmond Bonifacio; and Ronald Berber. Recovered from them were three unlincensed Colt Mark IV caliber 45 pistols, two hand grenades, and six magazines for caliber 45 loaded with ammunitions.

Paul Anthony Calimag, the driver of the van, positively identified three of the four suspects as those who held him at gunpoint from the Boom Carwash and took the vehicle heading towards the north direction.

Palad said that immediately after learning the incident, a flash alarm was given to all police units to check out black Starex vans, particularly that which has plate number ZGZ-711.

Police initially thought that the suspects would take the van to Region III after they dropped Calimag in Novaliches, Quezon City, near Valenzuela City.

Palad said that tt around 9pm, a TMG mobile crew spotted a black-colored Starex van with plate number ZDX-923 cruising along Greenhills Avenue in San Juan, driven by a man later identified as Ignacio.

A few minutes later, a Mitsubishi Adventure bearing plate number ZFC-690, with three men and a woman aboard it, drive side by side the said Starex van, and instructed the latter’s driver to stop. The woman was later found out to be a 17-year-old niece of Eduardo Bonifacio.

Palad said the TMG mobile crew then noticed that Ignacio, while transferring to the Adventure, was sporting a gun on his waistline. The Adventure then sped off, giving the TMG personnel the opportunity to check the Starex van.

Meanwhile, other TMG operatives tailed the Adventure until Connecticut Street, near EDSA where they flagged it down. The people aboard it peacefully complied and surrendered without firing a shot. They were then taken to the TMG headquarters in Camp Crame for further investigation, Palad said.

Palad explained that Ignacio purposely left the Starex van because it was supposed to be picked up by its buyer. He said that it is part of the modus operandi of carnappers to find a buyer before taking a vehicle. The Starex van of de Dios was reportedly sold already for P100,000 to a buyer that is still being investigated by the police.

Palad said that a check made with the plate ZDX-923 showed that it was registered to a 2006 Model Toyota Fortuner that was included in the list of wanted/stolen motor vehicles of the TMG. It is owned by a certain Juliana Adora of Commonwealth, Quezon City and was stolen last January 30, 2007 along Mayon Street in Quezon City.

The Starex van’s chassis and engine numbers also showed that it is the same make and type of motor vehicle that was taken from Calimag. Its original plate, ZGZ-711, was found inside the van.

A check made with the Adventure also revealed that it is owned by a certain Herminia Isail of Caloocan City, and was believed to have been carjacked also. Police are still awaiting Isail to appear before them to shed light on the involvement of her vehicle.

Palad disclosed, meanwhile, that the four suspects allegedly have links with the Abuyog Criminal Gang. They allegedly claimed to have forcibly taken also two Fortuner, three other Starex vans, and one Honda CRV, all now subject of follow up operations by the TMG.

Palad said the four suspects will be charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives, and violation of the Anti-Carnapping Law.

The female minor, on the other hand, may be used as witness against the four, since she claims she only accompanied her uncle in search for money, without knowing that they were already in an illegal operation./DMS