2 women nabbed for carnapping

CEBU, Philippines - Two women, suspected to be members of a carnapping syndicate, were arrested by police in separate areas in Cebu last Friday.

Chief Insp. Ryan Devaras, chief of Mabolo Police Station, identified the suspects as Gionna Marie Geolina, 36, and Maria Roselyn Olid, 40, who were reportedly about to victimize another rent-a-car owner in Cebu City last Friday afternoon.

Mabolo Police also recovered three vehicles the suspects reportedly stole, pawned and sold to unsuspecting clients.

Junnlyn Nacionales, 44, owner of a rent-a-car shop in Mandaue City, reported to the Mabolo Police Station regarding the presence of Olid at another rent-a-car shop in F. Cabahug St. in Barangay Mabolo at 3pm last Friday.

Devaras said they have alerted rent-a-car owners in the city and neighboring cities following a series of carnapping reports that reached police offices.

Mabolo Police acted on the report and arrested Olid, who was supposedly convincing the owner of the rent-a-car in Mabolo that she would rent a car.

Nacionales alleged that Olid was the same person who stole her Toyota Vios (YJZ 470) recently.

The suspect, she said, pretended to rent the car allegedly for the transportation of their Japanese customers.

However, the suspect no longer returned the car and the victim later found out that her car was pawned to an American national in Argao town.

Police conducted a follow-up operation and recovered the vehicle at 7 pm last Friday.

The American national and a lending firm, where the other stolen vehicles were recovered, coordinated with the police, saying they had no idea the vehicles were stolen.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Geolina in Argao.

Devaras said they were also able to recover a Kia Rio (YGD 133) and a Honda Civic (GNX 916) at a mall parking lot in Barangay Mabolo on the same day, following the suspects' confession.

The suspects, Devaras said, stole the cars from different rent-a-car shops in Mandaue and Cebu Cities in April and May.

The Mabolo Police chief said they are coordinating with other police units to determine the suspects' background. The suspects refused to issue a statement to the media on their arrest.

Charges for estafa and carnapping will be filed against the suspects.  (FREEMAN)