5 caught taking apart stolen AUV

MANILA, Philippines - Five persons were arrested after being caught in the act of dismantling an Asian utility vehicle allegedly stolen by an accomplice who had just been hired as a driver by the AUV’s owner.

The driver – who is currently behind bars for robbery and illegal possession of a firearm – now faces a separate case of car theft, an official of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said.

Superintendent Crisostomo Mendoza, commander of the QCPD Station 4, said the vehicle ended up in Norzagaray, Bulacan, where a follow up operation was conducted Friday afternoon.

The operation was conducted based on information provided by the “runaway” driver, Alexander Manalastas, who said he had “entrusted” the vehicle to his friend, Salvador Tamuso.

Apart from Tamuso, those arrested in Bulacan were Rolando Francisco, Leo Mianon, Louie Clave and Randy Mianon.

In an interview with The STAR yesterday, Mendoza said it all started when William Caya, who is based in Novaliches, hired Manalastas to drive his Mitsubishi Adventure (UVH-619). According to Mendoza, the AUV is being used as a public utility vehicle.

But a week ago, the AUV went missing along with Manalastas, prompting Caya to seek police assistance. Eventually, policemen found Manalastas locked up at the Caloocan City Jail on charges of illegal possession of firearms and robbery.

“He (Manalastas) said he had passed on the vehicle to his friend, “ Mendoza said. The police official said they eventually received information that the friend, who turned out to be Tamuso, could be found in Norzagaray.

When QCPD Station 4 personnel went there on Friday at the around 3 p.m., they found Tamuso and his four companions on a hilly vacant lot, dismantling the Adventure.

Mendoza said Manalastas did not say whether he had sold the AUV to Tamuso’s group, but the police official believes the group was really into buying stolen vehicles. “We also found there parts of another AUV and a sedan,” he said.