Pasay City police arrested a female suspect and recovered the getaway vehicle used in the daylight robbery that victimized Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia inside a Pasay City restaurant on Wednesday, August 20.
Hazel, 44, was apprehended in Las Piñas around 2:00 p.m. the same day. Found her possession were Garcia’s missing Louis Vuitton bag containing a cellphone and assorted IDs.
She admitted to acting as a lookout aboard the Toyota Innova while her group carried out the theft on the second floor of Singing Cooks and Waiters, Atbp. Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard.
The getaway vehicle—a silver Toyota Innova with plate number ZEF 399—was recovered at 4:59 ap.m. in Cabuyao, Laguna during follow-up and backtracking operations.
Pasay City Police chief Col. Joselito De Sesto said the vehicle had been rented for P3,000 from Joselito Celones and Nelia San Jose Ortega, who identified the renter as a certain “Boboy.”
The Innova has since been impounded as evidence.
Hazel also named their alleged leader as Neme Torrefiel, 48, of Longos, Bacoor, Cavite.
While initial reports identified six suspects, further investigation revealed the group consisted of eight individuals.
De Sesto said that they are still conducting follow-up operations for the arrest of the remaining suspects identified as Romson, Alberto, Jun, Joseph, Nennete, Neme, and one alias John Doe, who were all members of the “Salisi Gang.” (Jean Fernando)
