DUMAGUETE CITY – The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental has vowed to continue its operations against carnapping and theft of other motor vehicles.
Recently-installed provincial HPG chief Senior Insp. Sylvestre Cenia gave the assurance as he disclosed Wednesday that they have already apprehended five vehicle theft suspects since his assumption to office.
“Simula noong Aug. 1 hanggang ngayon (from Aug. 1 to now), we have already apprehended five motor-nappers, with two of them through manhunt with warrants of arrest,” he said.
According to Cenia, three other suspects have been subjected to inquest proceedings. Two of them, however, are minors, so the HPG is still awaiting the necessary documents prior to the filing of cases against them, he said.
He disclosed that in one incident, a motorcycle that was reported stolen in Barangay Candauay in this city last August 16 was recovered later in the town of Zamboanguita, about 27.8 kilometers south of this capital.
In the latest incident on Wednesday in Tanjay City, about 30.8 kilometers north of Dumaguete, the stolen motor vehicle was also recovered in Zamboanguita, Cenia said.
“We are continuing our operations with the help of the local police stations and the LTO (Land Transportation Office),” he reassured, but admitted that “kulang kaau ang among mga taw okay upat ra mi kabuok” (we lack personnel because there are only four of us)”.
Cenia noted that the four of them cover the entire province of Negros Oriental.
With the ongoing LTO Deputation Seminar and Traffic Investigation Training of some 80 police personnel, the HPG provincial chief is optimistic that they will be able to increase their anti-carnapping and motorcycle-theft operations.
“Kana, murag ma luag luag na gyud mi ky kabalo man mo nga kung dunay apprehension sa amoa man dayon idasok tanan ky kami man ang mag issue ug ticket nila (With the LTO deputation of police personnel, our tasks will ease up because every time there is an apprehension, it is turned over to us because we are the ones to issue the citation ticket),” Cenia said.
Cenia assumed his post last Aug. 6, replacing Senior Insp. Robelito Mariano, who was transferred to Iloilo. (Mary Judaline Partlow/PNA)
