TNT newsboy leads city cops to bust suspected 'carnap gang'
Call it the wrong victim at the right place or the right victim at the wrong place, but for The News Today (TNT) newsboy Joseph Lanzar, yesterday's delivery was most certainly 'memorable' in his four-months of employ.
Not only did he have his first taste of being the victim of a carnapper but he also led city cops to the arrest of suspected members of an organized carnap-gang.
The incident occurred late yesterday morning in the midst of dropping off the day's TNT maiden issue as a local daily. Lanzar made his usual rounds in the city with a supposed quick stop by Japino Restaurant of the Robinsons mall along Quezon-De Leon Streets.
Seconds after said stop and just a few steps away from his Honda Wave motorcycle, a male suspect later identified as 25 year-old Anthony dela Cruz took off and sped towards Valeria Street. Lanzar managed to yell for help and fortunately got the attention of roving policeman, PO3 Gizmo de Asis of Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) Police Precinct 1.
PO3 de Asis was in the area under orders of Police Senior Inspector Conrado Carganillo, Police Precinct 1 (PP1) commander, following repeated carnapping incidents here. PO3 de Asis in a TNT interview said he has been on continued surveillance of the mall's premises and surrounding streets. Three months of hardwork finally paid off, he added.
He was in the area for a few minutes only knowing that such "dead time" usually would have the suspects milling the premises. It was then when he heard a yell for help and saw the male suspect sped off with what he knew was a stolen motorcycle.
PO3 de Asis then called Senior Inspector Carganillo and told him of his ongoing pursuit while asking for back-up. A flash alarm was then sent out by the PP1 commander wherein neighboring police stations helped out and conducted a blockade. Operatives of the Waterfront police headed by Senior Inspector Dande Deocampo helped in the pursuit that later led the city cops to the residence of couple Rodrigo and Janet Gabrillos in Burgos Street, Barangay Ortiz, City Proper.
Bystanders in the area further helped in pointing the exact location after seeing a motorcycled male with a lot of newspapers entering the secluded house.
Lanzar with the city cops including the back-up team of the PP1 collared Dela Cruz seconds after he took refuge in Gabrillos house. Yet to the surprise of the police, four other motorcycles were also parked there leading the cops to suspect that the place serves as the 'drop-off' point of carnapped motorcycles.
Senior Inspector Carganillo told TNT that validation is underway to verify ownership of the other motorcycles while saying that highly-suspicious was the discovery of the other parked motorcycles there.
Dela Cruz and Rodrigo Gabrillos meantime were arrested and stands to face carnapping charges.
Asked on his involvement, dela Cruz admitted to reporters and the investigators that he took Lanzar's motorcycle knowing that buyers are waiting and ready for the purchase. He said it was his first time to operate and get into business with the Gabrillos.
Dela Cruz points to 33 year-old Elven Gabot and businessman Ulysses Corvera as his supposed buyers. However, the duo when reached by TNT said they were merely at the right place at the wrong time and that they have documents to prove ownership of the three suspected stolen motorcycles.
Gabot for his part said one of the questioned motorcycle unit was pawned to him by one Joel Abogadil of Barangay Sarawag, Januiay, Iloilo. Asked further of Abogadil's whereabouts, Gabot said he actually has not met his 'client' since he was only a referral of a pal, Stephen Cajilig. Yet both supposed contacts,he insisted, left no contact numbers to him.
Charges will be filed by the police today.