The Loyola Informer

Incidents of carjacking increase, police on heightened alert
by Angela Santos

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Loyola Heights police are now on heightened alert due to a series of carjacking incidents that occurred last week. Four carjacking incidents occurred in the said area this month alone, according to PNP Station 9 Chief Superintendent Oscar Palisoc.

The most recent occurred along Alvero St. in Barangay Loyola Heights, last July 27, Friday.

Two Miriam College students, whose names have been withheld, parked their grey Toyota Grandia along the said street at around 11:15 a.m. Witnesses said that three unidentified males parked their white Mitsubishi Lancer beside the car minutes after the complainants left.

The complainants found the right side of their sliding door detached, and their valuables missing, including a P20,000 video camera. The total cost of loss and damages were estimated to about P44,000.

Hours after, a student of UP Diliman found the side mirrors of his Isuzu Crosswind missing after parking at the back of a fastfood chain along the same street.

Police in Loyola Heights are now on high alert due to incidences of carjacking.

“We now have one of the suspects in custody, and with continuous investigation, we hope to find those responsible,” said Palisoc in a mix of English and Filipino.

“Due to the recent carjacking incidents, we are now on heightened alert, and we have dispatched our men to patrol the streets of Loyola Heights.”

Palisoc said that the Barangay Security and Development Office (BSDO) have stationed their personnel around the Katipunan footbridges since school started last June, and cases of snatching and hold-upping have considerably lessened since then.

“Hopefully, we will be able to lessen the number of carjacking incidents as well, now that we have tightened security along Loyola Heights.”