3 suspected car thieves nabbed in Dumaguete

Three individuals, including a barangay councilman, were arrested for their alleged involvement in carnapping incidents in Negros Oriental, resulting in the recovery of six vehicles worth P3.8 million.

Raquel Etcuben, 41, a resident of Cebu City, Aniceas Silorio, 48, councilman of Barangay San Roque in San Jose town, Negros Oriental, and Jesus Delos Reyes, 52, of Amlan, Negros Oriental were arrested in a joint operation by the Regional Investigation Division-7, Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), Highway Patrol Group (HPG)-Negros Oriental, and Dumaguete City Police at a mall in Calindagan, Dumaguete City last Friday.

A Ford Ranger with an estimated worth of P400,000 was seized from the suspects during the initial operation at the mall's parking lot.

A follow-up operation ensued in San Jose and Amlan towns, resulting in the recovery of five more vehicles: two Kia Picantos, a Hyundai Eon, a Mitsubishi Montero, and a Chevrolet Spin. All six vehicles have an estimated total value of P3.8 million.

The suspects were allegedly planning to sell the said vehicles, said Superintendent Robelito Mariano of the HPG-Negros Oriental.

Of the three suspects, Etcuben has outstanding arrest warrants for robbery, extortion, and estafa filed against her, MCPO's City Intelligence Branch Chief Superintendent Bernouli Abalos told The FREEMAN.

The suspected leader of the group Etcuben is allegedly involved in, Michael Cordero, remains at large, Abalos said, adding that Etcuben only contacts her alleged boss through her cellular phone.

Cordero was previously an employee of a company which handled repossessed vehicles, but instead of turning them over to the company, he allegedly pawns them and uses the money for gambling or sells them at lower prices, the Mandaue police chief said.

This, he added, constitutes as carnapping.

"Nalulong sa gambling sa casino (si Cordero) eh. Tinanggal siya sa pinagtatrabahuan niya kasi nakapag-despalko siya ng P1.5 million from the company. Pero kahit tinanggal na siya, tuloy pa rin siya sa transactions niya sa clients at nagpapakilala siyang lehitimong empleyado ng kompanyang iyon," Abalos further told The FREEMAN.

Outstanding warrants of arrest have also been filed against Cordero in various parts of the country, including Angeles City and Guimaras, Abalos added.

For his part, Silorio, a barangay kagawad since 2013, said he was not aware that Etcuben was allegedly involved in carnapping.

"Naa man gud koy shop ginagmay," he said.

Charges of robbery and extortion are set to be filed against the three suspects, while authorities continue their probe into the incident.