Police officer driving stolen car arrested in Laguna

POLICE operatives arrested a member of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) in Laguna Sunday night for driving a stolen vehicle, said the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos identified the arrested officer as Chief Master Sgt. Allan Casañas, who was nabbed by members of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) Calabarzon office and the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG).

Casañas was driving  stolen silver Toyota Innova when he was apprehended along Chipeco Ave. in Barangay Halang, Calamba City at around 7:20 p.m.

Carlos said that based on the report, IMEG undercover officers placed the PSPG member under surveillance amid information that he was using a stolen motor vehicle.

IMEG and PNP-HPG officials stopped Casañas and placed him under arrest after a check with the HPG Vehicle Information Management System showed that he was in possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

IMEG chief Brig. Gen. Oliver A Enmodias said a record check showed that the vehicle was originally owned by one Jeanet Gisalan of Malate, Manila who reported that it was stolen in front of No. 22 Scout Borromeo St. in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City on August 28, 2012.

When intercepted, the suspect was driving the vehicle with the license plate number PBI-531, which was found to have been originally issued to a black Ford Focus Hatchback registered to a gasoline station.

“The suspect was asked for documents as proof of ownership of the said vehicle but failed to show any,” Enmodias said.

Casañas was also stripped of his PNP-issued caliber 9mm pistol with a magazine containing 20 live ammunition.

The stolen vehicle will be subjected to further examination by the PNP-HPG and the Forensic Group.