Laoag City carjacking cases rise

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

CARJACKING incidents in the city are rising.

This is based on police records where it show that there has been nine carjacking incidents as of March 19, 2014.

This was also confirmed by Laoag City police officer-in-charge P/Supt. Jeffrey Gorospe as he reported that there had been two carjacking incidents each in January and February, and five as of March 19.

In the police reports, the incidents involved motorcycles with the latest even occurring on the parking area at the back of the Provincial Capitol and at the side of the Laoag City Hall, wherein both cases happened in the morning.

Gorospe added that if the motorcycle cannot be jacked, perpetrators settle for motorcycle parts.

To help stop these incidents, Gorospe held a meeting with all barangay tanod chiefs in the city to discuss the rise in carjacking incidents in the city. He urged the barangay security forces to be more vigilant to stop these crimes.

Gorospe also appealed to the city’s vehicle owners to ensure that they lock their vehicles before leaving them. He added that if they can put double locks on them, it would be better.

Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas for her part asked Civil Security Unit chief retired Col. Florentino Dumlao who was in charge of security on the area where a motorcycle was jacked. According to Dumlao, a traffic enforcer was detailed in the area but the enforcer was out of the area when the crime happened and there was no security camera in the area.

Meanwhile, Gorospe also mentioned that the city police is also stepping up operations against theft, illegal drugs, physical injuries, attempted rape and other illicit activities in the city.

The police OIC said they have arrested five persons with standing warrants of arrest: one for robbery, three for grave threats, and one for frustrated homicide.