The reported hijacking of 1,000 bags of sugar loaded in two cargo trucks, as alleged by the two drivers, turned out to be a “hijack me”, as described by PCol. Leo Pamittan, Provincial Police Director, yesterday, following the recovery of goods at a bodega in Brgy. Busay, Bago City, Negros Occidental.
The two drivers identified as Jojit Arsenio and Michael Orien are now under the custody of the Murcia Police Station, pending further investigation into the incident.
Pamittan said they were able to establish that the two drivers were lying as they dig deeper into the investigation.
He added that one of the drivers later pointed to the location of stolen cargo at a bodega in Bago City.
Arsenio and Orien had claimed in media interviews that they were hogtied, blindfolded, and padlocked by the suspects inside a wing van vehicle. Both were found yesterday at Hacienda Wawa in Brgy. Pandanon Silos, Murcia, inside one of the vehicles.
Both further claimed that they were flagged down by five suspects who asked to hitch a ride in La Carlota City on Monday night, while travelling from Binalbagan via La Carlota City to BREDCO Port in Bacolod City.
Arsenio alleged that the suspects later declared a “hold up” and one of them took over control of the wing van he was driving.
Based on their investigation, PMaj. Marc Joel Reclamado, Murcia Police Chief, said the two drivers may have accomplices who probably tied them up before they were found in the town. But prior to that, Reclamado said he believes that the suspects may already have unloaded the cargo at a bodega in Bago City.
Pamittan, who inspected the stolen 1,000 bags of sugar, estimated to have a market value of P6 million, inside a bodega, said the two suspects reportedly hired nine residents in the barangay to unload the cargo into the bodega.
He added that the cargo of sugar has been all accounted for.
Negros Occidental Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer debunked claims that armed men were responsible for the hijacking, as he strongly believes that it was an inside job committed by both drivers.
(Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)