Provincial

2 NOTORIOUS CARNAPPERS ARRESTED IN BATANGAS

admin December 12, 2023

TWO alleged notorious carnappers on Friday were arrested by joint operatives in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4-A chief Col. Rommel Estolano identified the suspects as Roberto Baliguat, 28, and Leonardo Dayo, 35, both residents of Bgy. San Isidro Norte in Sto. Tomas.

The suspects were arrested in Mercedes Homes Subdivision, Bgy. San Isidro Norte.

Police said the arrest was made following complaints by victims Ryan Ballesteros and Catherine Rose Colo.

Ballesteros and Colo told police that the suspects threatened them with a gun at 3:40 a.m. on Friday.

Members of the RHPU4A led by Lt Arvin Ramos, the Provincial Highway Patrol Team Batangas headed by Maj. Jason Sto. Domingo under the direct supervision of Estolano, and the Sto. Tomas police, immediatey responded and went to Mercedes Homes Subdivision.

Officers saw the suspects standing in front of a house with guns tucked on their waists.

The suspects, who were positively identified by the victims, did not resist arrest.

Recovered from Ballesteros and Colo were a Nissan Urvan, a Toyota Hi-Ace, two cal. .9mm pistols, a cal. .45, 79 rounds of ammunition and magazines, a cellphone, two car keys, 28 assorted license plates and 10 suspected fake Certificates of Registration (COR).

Police found out that the suspects were notorious carnappers and allegedly involved in a rent-a-car scam.

During investigation, one of the car’s owners appeared at the police station and identified his vehicle by its markings.

The arrested suspects are now detained at the Santo Tomas City police custodial facility facing charges for grave threat, illegal possession of firearms, carnapping, and falsification of official documents.

Estolano said the latest accomplishment of the RHPU4A is the result of intensified anti-carnapping operations of the Highway Patrol Group under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro, in line with the chief PNP’s aggressive and honest law enforcement operations against carnapping, highway robbery, and other forms of criminality along the highway.