PHILIPPINE National Police Highway Patrol Group director, Brigadier General Alexander C. Tagum yesterday announced the arrest of one of the country’s most wanted car thieves during an operation conducted by agents of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4-A in Calabarzon region.
The official identified the suspects as Esrom Paming, a 26-year old businessman tagged as the no. 13th most wanted person in Quezon province and the subject of a warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016.
“We have arrested a most wanted car thief in line with our ongoing effort to account for persons in our list who are all the subject of pending warrants of arrest for carnapping and other crimes,” said Tagum.
The suspect was arrested by members of the RHU4-A headed by Lieutenant Colonel Samson Belmonte during a manhunt operation in Purok 3, Barangay Tabas in Paracale, Camarines Norte on Friday afternoon.
Belmonte said that information provided by the arrested suspect also resulted in the recovery of two wanted stolen motor vehicles in Metro Manila.
He said that members of the Quezon Provincial Highway Patrol Team led the operation in Paracale, Camarines Norte which led in the arrest of Paming. A P300,000 bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the suspect by Judge Manuel Salumbides of the Quezon Regional Trial Court Branch 63.
The suspect was brought to the Lopez Municipal Police Station in Quezon for documentation and temporary detention shortly after his arrest.
Belmonte said that follow-up operations in Metro Manila triggered by information provided by the arrested suspect resulted in the recovery of a stolen Ford Raptor and a Nissan Urvan NV 350.
He said that around 5 p.m. Saturday, members of the RHPU 4-A Special Operations Team led by Major Gemuel Cortina, the Quezon PHPT led by Maj. Jun Villarosa and the Laguna PHPT under Captain Charlie Reyes conducted an operation in Scout Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City which led in the recovery of the Ford Raptor currently under the possession of a resident of Tandang Sora, Q.C.
The man voluntarily turned over the recovered pick-up with conduction sticker C2H178 to the HPG operatives after being informed of its status.
Another operation along Sun Valley Drive in Parañaque City conducted by a team of RHPU4-A officers led by Executive Master Sergeant Dexter Pascua and Chief Master Sgt. Lian Manalo resulted in the recovery of the Nissan Urvan NV350 with conduction sticker F3L 757 in Bgy. Sun Valley in Parañaque City.
Belmonte said that the van is the subject of a ‘failed to return’ complaint from its registered owner, a resident of Calamba City in Laguna last September 3.
Both recovered motor vehicles were impounded at the RHPU4-A headquarters in Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna.
The RHPU4-A accomplishment came just a few hours after Belmonte took over its leadership on orders of Brig. Gen. Tagum. Belmonte, the erstwhile commander of the HPG Special Operations Division-Task Force Limbas was replaced by another tough HPG operative, Lt. Col. Joel Ana who has been ordered by Tagum to launch a massive crackdown against carnapping, highway robbery and hijacking in the country.
RHPU4-A operatives have also arrested Frank Genabe III,34; and his live-in partner Armanda Xyza,33, on the strength of a warrant of arrest for violation of RA 10883 issued by Judge Gil Sta. Maria of the Sta. Rosa City RTC Branch 102. No bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the two, said Belmonte.
A Nissan Almera with conduction sticker OY4999 which is the subject of the complaint filed against the couple in November 2019 was recovered by RHPU4-A agents inside Country Homes Subdivision in Las Piñas City.
Belmonte said that the two who were locked-up at the RHPU4-A cell opted to remain silent and avail of their constitutional rights.
