By Greg G. Deligero
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio lauded the Davao City Police Office for the arrest of four “buak kotse” gang members allegedly responsible for breaking into privately-owned cars in Davao City.
“We congratulate our police for exerting more effort to solve the buak kotse incidents. Let’s not lower our guard, let’s keep working,” Duterte said.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief Senior Superintendent Ronald de la Rosa advised the public not to leave valuable items inside their vehicles which are visible to passersby.
“You may leave valuable things inside your car, but see to it that these are properly covered or put in a place not visible to the syndicate,” he said.
Last Monday, police operatives from Davao City led by Talomo Police Station commander PSupt. Dionesio C. Abude, arrested four members of the notorious buak kotse Gang in an entrapment operation conducted in a hotel in General Santos City.
The gang’s moniker stems from the manner they steal valuable items by breaking the glass portions of parked vehicles. Dela Rosa said the DCPO has so far recorded 32 bukas kotse cases in Davao City, 15 of which occurred in Talomo district.
The suspects were formally charged yesterday with theft and robbery before the city prosecutor’s office.
Duterte also acknowledged the participation of concerned citizens in Davao City and General Santos City that led to the arrest of the suspects.
The suspects’ entrapment and arrest started when a camera enthusiast based in General Santos called up a friend in Davao City to inquire about the advantages and other features of the Nikon D700 DSLR, a high-end digital camera.
The friend in Davao City happens to be a colleague in the Camera Club of Davao of Erwin Wong Te, who lost an identical high-end camera and other valuable items last October 14 in Shrine Hills, Matina.
After establishing that the item being sold had the same serial number, the GenSan-based photo enthusiast was then advised to delay the business transaction with the dealer until police operatives from Davao arrived there.
Even after the arrest of the suspects, Dela Rosa warned the public against being complacent as there are still other members of the gang who are continuing to operate.
He said the gang operates nationwide using the network of roads connecting the cities of General Santos, Davao, Butuan and Surigao to the Visayas, Metro Manila and vice versa.
Along this route, Dela Rosa said there are also separate “parallel” groups who are doing the same modus operandi.
“There are smaller, separate groups operating in every specific area, though not as extensive as the buak kotse gang who operates nationwide,” he said.
