Authorities nab 3 suspected carnappers

Members of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team (PHPT) of Negros Oriental, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, on Sunday evening arrested three suspected carnappers who were at the time disembarking from an interisland vessel from Cebu.

PHPT leader, Senior Inspector Robelito Mariano, identified the three arrested suspects as Jason Louis Bandoy of Bacong town who was reportedly a son of a physician; Joefren Elorta Pis-an from Dauin; and Ronel Yu Domen of Valencia.

Mariano said the three earlier rented a Mitsubishi Montero from a rent-a-car outlet at Barangay Bagacay in Dumaguete City, but they allegedly failed to return the car after 17 days, reportedly despite pleadings from its registered owner, Caroline Yanzon.

Yanzon contacted the three to return the vehicle, and with their failure to comply, prompted her to have the case blottered at the PHPT. Deemed as being 'carnapped,' the PHPT operatives, together with those of the PCG and the PDEA, intercepted the three upon arrival at the Dumaguete Port on October 8.

Mariano said their earlier whereabouts had been tracked via the car's GPS, resulting in the apprehension as the suspects arrived Dumaguete with the vehicle.

During tactical interrogation, illegal drugs paraphernalia including a digital weighing scale were allegedly recovered from the vehicle, Mariano told The FREEMAN.

Further investigations showed that Bandoy had a previous case for violations of the anti-illegal drugs law, which was however dismissed. The suspects have yet to issue their statements on their side of the case.