Ten more vehicles believed to have been stolen in Luzon were recovered by the PNP Highway Patrol Group in follow-up operations in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, HPG director Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina said yesterday.

The recovery of 10 stolen vehicles in Negros Occidental brought to 33 the number of carnapped cars recovered by the HPG since November last year in the province.

Sixteen other stolen vehicles were recovered by HPG operatives in General Santos City in Mindanao.

In his report submitted to PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, Espina said, 10 of the 26 stolen cars were recovered in the second phase of their operations in Negros and Mindanao.

Police suspect that members of the Baktin carjacking group stole the cars.

Espina said the recovery of 26 more stolen vehicles is part of their special intelligence project called Case Operation Plan “Inbox,” aimed at neutralizing the biggest carjacking network uncovered last year in the Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

He added that the targets of Coplan Inbox are motor vehicles stolen in Luzon that shipped by the syndicate to the Visayas and Mindanao for “re-birthing” and resale.

HPG investigations show that most of the “hot cars” recovered in Mindanao have been traced to used car dealerships in Central Mindanao whose owners have been charged for violation of RA 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 before the Department of Justice.* GPB

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