‘Carnapper’ of TF van arrested

CEBU, Philippines - The alleged carnapper who drove away with the delivery van of The Freeman was arrested Sunday night after the van was seen abandoned in Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City.

Ramonito Tribonalo, was arrested in Upper Tawason, Mandaue City, by Alvin Minoza, a barangay tanod, after the suspect was linked to the crime.

Ben Marcohos, The Freeman’s driver, narrated that he was about to leave from the office and started the engine.

He said he went back to the front desk just meters away from the van to get a purchase order since it is part of the company’s policy to secure one before leaving.

He got the purchase order and left the van with the keys in it and the engine running.

Marcohos said that he was only gone for over a minute but when he returned to the parking area, he was surprised that the van was already missing.

He said the security guard saw someone in a green and blue shirt wearing a ball cap driving the van heading towards D. Jakosalem.

Marcohos then got in another vehicle and tried to follow the van going to the North Reclamation Area but failed to locate it. He also went to the South Road Properties but also did not see the van.

Edgardo Postera, an employee of The Freeman, later told his officemates that while he was on his way to the office, he saw a van of the company with the hazard lights on.

He said that he did not mind it thinking that the van was used by reporters for news gathering. But when he heard that it was carnapped, he told his officemates that he saw the van.

This prompted Marcohos to coordinate with the Waterfront Police Station.

Waterfront Police Station chief, Senior Inspector Wayne Magbanua, said that the Tribonalo seemed to be drunk and denied that he carnapped the van.

“Sobrang lasing kasi itong tao, ang giingon niya nga hindi niya alam nga ang van gidrive niya sa Talamban,” Magbanua said.

Magbanua is puzzled why would someone try to steal a van that can be identified immediately just by looking at it since most of the carnappers would take cars that are unique. All delivery vans of The Freeman, including the one that was taken, is labeled with stickers of the newspaper.

Tribonalo is now detained at the Waterfront Police Station awaiting the filing of a carnapping case against him (FREEMAN)