SUSPECTS IN KIDNAP, ‘TANGAY ‘KOTSE’ MODUS ARRESTED IN BULACAN

BY KEVIN GALANG

CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Police have solved the September 6 carnapping and detention incident case in Bulacan following the arrest of all suspects and the recovery of the stolen vehicle in Muntinlupa City.

Authorities are checking if  the arrested suspects are tied to bigger rent-a-car “sale and sangla” syndicates.

Victim “Jason,” a transport service driver from Taguig City, told police that he rented out to the suspects. his red Toyota Innova in Marilao, Bulacan.

But instead of paying for the service, the suspects forcibly took the vehicle, blindfolded “Jason,” and detained him in an inn in San Rafael, Bulacan.

The victim managed to escape by leaping from the second-floor window.

Hot pursuit operations immediately followed, resulting in the arrest of three suspects—alias “Boss J,” alias “Kulas,” and alias “Nap.” 

The suspects female co-accused, an alias “Nic,” voluntarily surrendered to the Baliwag City police on September 7. 

All four were positively identified by the victim as those responsible for the crime.

An investigation showed that the suspects initially tried to sell the Toyota Innova through a rent-a-car “sale” scheme, but the deal did not push through. 

Instead, the suspects pawned the vehicle for P150,000 to a certain Mr. Bernardo in Quezon City, a method commonly linked to the “rent tangay-sangla” modus.

Through intelligence operations, Baliwag City police led by Lt. Col. Jayson F. San Pedro, under the supervision of Bulacan police director Col. Angel Garcillano, recovered the abandoned Toyota Innova with plate number NJA 1883 in Bgy. Cupang, Muntinlupa City on September 10.

The recovered vehicle is now in police custody.

Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr. commended the swift resolution of the case.

“The recovery of the Innova not only solves a single case but also exposes the operations of rent tangay-benta/sangla groups. Our units, together with the Highway Patrol Group, are conducting deeper investigations to determine if these suspects are linked to larger criminal networks,” the official said.

“In light of the 7-Focus Agenda of our acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., particularly on employing enhanced managing police operations, PRO3 will continue to sustain intelligence-driven initiatives to ensure public safety and bring criminals to justice,”   Peñones added.