Alleged carnap group arrested in separate ops in Metro Manila, Rizal

Police arrested the alleged leader and seven members of a robbery and carnapping group in separate operations in Metro Manila and Rizal on Friday night.

Eight motorcycles, two cars, two guns, bullets, and clothes were recovered during the operation. Two of the motorcycles were the ones allegedly used by the suspects in carnapping, authorities said.

The Eastern Police District (EPD) said they launched the operation after receiving a complaint from a man who was robbed of his motorcycle and cellphone in Barangay Tumana, Marikina City before dawn on Thursday.

The 20-year-old victim said he and his girlfriend just went out to buy food when four men aboard two motorcycles stopped in front of them and pointed a gun at them.

“Tinutukan na po kami agad ng baril at saka pinababa na agad kami ng motor kaya tumalikod na lang po kami agad tapos yumuko na po kami agad," he said.

(They pointed a gun at us and ordered us to get down from our motorcycle. So we did then turned our backs on them and just looked down immediately.)

The cellphone of the victim however had GPS which helped authorities to track down the suspects and recover the victim's motorcycle and other vehicles.

The same modus was observed on May 18 during another robbery that was caught on CCTV.

Three motorcycles were seen stopping in front of a man on a motorcycle in front of a school on Santisimo Street, Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina City.

Two of the men aboard the said motorcycles got down then pointed a gun at the victim.

The suspects then took his motorcycle. The victim said they still had a gun pointed at him while the suspects fled.

Police believe that the arrested suspects were also involved in the Barangay Sto. Niño incident.

“Mayroon naman pong pag-amin po at saka kung mapapansin 'nyo, sir, du'n sa mga damit ay tumutugma naman po sila sa video po nakuha natin doon," Police Colonel Jenny Tecson, chief of police of the Marikina City Police Station, said.

(They admitted it and if you will notice, sir, the clothes match the ones worn by the suspects in the video.)

"Criminal gang ng Taguig ito eh. Si Paps kung tawagin nila. Paps Group. So nagkataon lang na tayo 'yung nakakuha," EPD District Director Police Brigadier General Melecio Buslig Jr. said.

(This is a criminal gang in Taguig. They call them Paps. Paps Group. So it so happened that we are the ones who got them.)

"Ang operation nitong grupo na ito is NCR-wide eh. As far as Cavite, as far as Bulacan, tumitira sila... Since 2023, kung susumahin daw nila 'yung nakuha nilang motor eh more than 100 na," he added.

(This group operate