Man faces carnapping charges

CHARGES have been filed before the City Prosecution Office (CPO) yesterday against a man who stole a Starex van last Saturday.

The suspect, identified as Joseph Ramie Oyao Cortez, 47, of Rizal Street, Poblacion, Tagum City, was charged with violation of the Republic Act 6539, or The Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972.

A source, who refused to be named for lack of authority to speak, said suspect was brought before Prosecutor Joseph Mamburam at around 9:30 a.m. yesterday for inquest proceedings.

The charges were filed based on the affidavit/complaint filed by the victim identified as one Hermilo Sanchez Cambarehan, 57, DITC driver, resident of Emily Homes in Cabantian, Davao City.

Supt. Royina Garma, chief of the Sasa police station, said

the suspect was arrested through the personnel of the Tagum City Police Office (TCPO) in Tagum City, following a flash alarm echoed on Saturday around 2 p.m.

Record from the Sasa police showed that Cambarehan filed a complaint before the station at around 8:50 a.m. that his vehicle was stolen at the Davao International Airport.

According to Cambarehan, while his unit (Starex) bearing plate number LWW286 was parked inside the airport, an unidentified man approached and confronted him that he (victim) only stole the vehicle.

“Ako na nuon ang kawatan ani. Gikawat daw nako ang sakyanan unya ang tinuod nga tag-iya kay ang suspetsado kuno,” Cambarehan said in the affidavit.

Cambarehan, who had left the vehicle to look for passengers, has accidentally left it open not knowing that the car key was still inside. It was then the victim saw the suspect driven the vehicle out from the airport.

The victim sought for police assistance in which a certain PO3 George Rafailes immediately informed the Central 911, Baron Base and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 11 on a carnapping incident. ICT