container van hijackers arrested by CIDG

Miami
October 16, 2008
Story: container van hijackers arrested by CIDG

Two alleged container van hijackers were arrested by the operatives of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police, Wednesday morning.

The two were arrested because of the Oplan Cleansweep of the CIDG on which it is an intensified campaign against syndicated or organized crime groups who victimized innocent people.

The two suspects were identified as Virgilio Estrella, 42 and Abelardo Palma, 36, were arrested last October 15, at around 4:00 am along Terona Highway in Bacoor, Cavite.

The container van (HVF 708) just left the Mareck Subdivision, Cainta, Rizal where it stayed for an overnight before the van will travel to Calbayog, Samar. The contents of the container van are Php500,000 worth of biscuits and noodles were intended for delivery in Shining Sun Distributors.

SPO2 Hanni Salih of Criminal Investigation and Detection Division (CIDD) under CIDG was doing his surveillance work along Cainta junction when he noticed Estrella and Palma who was on the side street flagged down a 40-foot container van. Salih became curious with the actions of Estrella and Palma upon boarding the container van.

Salih who was then boarded on his motorcycle, followed where the van will go to. This was at around 11:00 to 11:30 pm of October 14.

While following the container van, Salih was able to inform the CIDD headquarters about the suspicious act of Estrella and Palma.

CIDD operatives accosted the van, both Estrella and Palma intended to escape, but the police were able to arrest them immediately. Recovered from the suspect one .45 caliber pistol.

The two victims were identified as Oscar Molina, the legitimate driver of the van and his helper Andome Eliseo.

Molina told the police that the reason why he allowed Estrella and his companion Palma to ride on the container van because he knew Estrella.

Estrella was the former co-worker of Molina.

CIDD Chief Supt. Noli Romana, said that maybe there is a personal motive on part of Estrella why he tried to hijacked and hostaged Molina and Eliseo because it shows on their investigation that Estrella was removed from the job.

Molina also told the police that upon riding their van, Estrella point the gun to him.

Both Estrella and Palma will face highway robbery and illegal possession of firearms.