NINE persons accused of involvement in car and motorcycle theft activities were arrested by agents of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) in a string of anti-criminality operations in the country this week, PNP-HPG director, Brigadier General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil said on Saturday.

Two of the suspects identified as Gerasom Balilihan,42; and Marry An Ramos,66; were arrested in Central Visayas by members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 7 headed by Lieutenant Colonel Joel Manuel A. Ana.

Balilihan, tagged as the 8th most wanted man in Laguna was arrested inside a motor shop in Bgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City 2 p.m. Monday on the basis of a warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 issued by Judge Caesar Nuenagua of the Calamba City Regional Trial Court Branch 37.

A P300,000 bail was recommended for the temporary liberty of the accused.

Ana said his men led by Majors Gemuel Cortina and Silvestre Cenia arrested the suspects with the assistance of officers from the Calamba City Police Station and the local police.

On the other hand, Ramos alias ‘Nancy Lim, a resident of North Drive, Barangay Villamante in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental was arested in Bgy. Domlog in Bindoy, Negros Oriental.

Lt. Col. Ana said that the suspect is wanted for an estafa case being heard by Judge Ma. Katrina Gonzales-Pasicaran of the Manjuyod-Ayungon Municipal Circuit Trial Court. An P18,000 bail was set for the temporary liberty of the accused, said the official.

A 3rd suspect identified as Elizabeth Theresa Santos,49, a resident of 6th Avenue in Bgy. Socorro, Quezon City was arrested on the basis of a warrant for violation of RA 10883 issued by Judge Ma. Christina Lim of the San Juan City RTC Branch 264.

Tagged as the 2nd most wanted person in San Juan City, the suspect was arrested on Thursday by HPG officers led by Major Edgardo Santiago. A P300,000 bail was set for the temporary liberty of the accused.

Six other suspects 3 of them still minors were arrested by combined HPG and Bataan policemen while reportedly dismantling 4 stolen motorcycles in Sitio Paloma in Bgy. Cataning in Hermosa municipality 10:30 p.m. Thursday.

Recovered during the anti-carnapping operation were 3 units of 125 cc motorcycles and a 150cc motorbike, all with no license plates.

Brig. Gen. Marbil said that assorted motorcycle parts and accessories were found scattered at the raided place. One magwheels and a GB box of a stolen motorcycle was identified by its owners thru his initials which were found engraved on the recovered pieces of evidence.

Four of the suspects identified as Milette Gotis,39; Aron Magpantay,21; and Bernard Santiago,19; and his younger brother John Paul were detained at the Orani Municipal Police Station while the 2 teenagers were placed under the custody of the local social welfare office.

Marbil said that local police and HPG operatives led by Major Larry Valencia and Captain Marlon Anacleto Agno launched a dragnet after one Cezar Aque reported that his motorcycle was stolen while parked at the parking are of Puregold Orani.

A follow-up operation in Sitio Paloma led in the arrest of the suspects.

Brig. Gen. Marbil said that members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit-National Capital Region headed by Lt. Col. Joel L. Mendoza also recovered a Mitsubishi Montero with plate no. NDR 5207 believed to have been stolen thru the so-called ‘Rent-Sangla, Rent-Tangay’ scheme.

The SUV was found in Valenzuela Extension in Sta. Mesa, Manila around 4 p.m. Thursday by RHPU-NCR operatives after one Lucky Christian Zolina of General Trias, Cavite sought the HPG’s assistance in recovering the missing vehicle.

It turned out that one Alvin Gacos offered to rent the SUV from Zolina last February 20 for P5,000 daily.

Zolina reported the disappearance of his SUV last Thursday saying Gacos failed to return the vehicle to him after their rental contract expired.

Brig. Gen. Marbil said that RHPU-NCR officers flagged down the SUV for initial violation of unauthorized use of improvised plate. Its driver identified as Michael Jay Garcia of San Pablo City, Laguna claimed that the SUV was pawned to his father by Gacos for P400,000 last March 2.

Garcia voluntarily surrendered the vehicle to the HPG after knowing its true origin.