Cops hunting down starlet Katrina Paula, partner for car theft

The police are hunting down former sexy star Katrina Paula and her live in partner Raymond Dominguez, a suspected leader of a notorious syndicate of car thieves. Dominguez, alias Benigno Victorino, and Paula, Angeline Samonte in real life, were nowhere to be found after authorities raided their condominium units in Mandaluyong City on November 2. The raid was conducted based on the search warrant issued by Mandaluyong regional trial court Judge Carlos Valenzuela. Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said the three condominium units occupied by Dominguez and Paula were believed to be the hideout of the members of the syndicate. A P500,000 reward has been put up for information that will lead to the arrest of Dominguez, the PNP head said. “Hinahanap namin siya (Paula), kasama nya si Raymond naturally we could expect that once their warrants would come out we will arrest them," said Supt. Leonardo Espina, Highway Patrol Group director. (We are looking for her, she would be with Raymond.) Recovered during the raid were five stolen high-end vehicles and luxury vans, including the Hyundai Sante Fe of former Labor undersecretary Dionisio dela Cerna. Authorities were also confiscated stolen license plates and car registration papers, face masks, duct and masking tapes, and hand gloves. “I am giving instructions to all PNP units to extend all available support to ongoing operations of the Highway Patrol Group to arrest ring leader Raymond Dominguez who is the subject of several warrants of arrest for carnapping and involvement in other criminal cases," said Bacalzo. Dominguez has been charged with complex crime of carnapping with murder; rape; murder for the death of PO1 Rendetor Almuete and two others in San Fernando Pampanga; attempted murder and carnapping, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition; and reckless imprudence resulting damage to property with serious physical injuries. The police are still studying the cases to be filed against Paula. “Pinag-aaralan po naming mabuti sapagkat these cars were parked in their parking slots in that condominium (We are studying [the case] carefully because the cars were parked in their parking slots in that condominium)," said Espina. "Aside from the parking lots we have searched the three units occupied by the live in partner so pagka dinugtong-dugtong mo ito they will be answerable for all the carnapping charges that we are going to hurdle against him. Isasama namin siya (sa sasampahan ng kaso)," said Espina. (Aside from the parking slots, we have searched the three units occupied by the live-in partner so when you connect all these, they will be answerable for all the carnapping charges that we are going to hurdle against him. We are going to include her among those to be charged.) The police are also set to ask the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order against the two. –VVP, GMANews.TV