PNP: Carjack gang neutralized with arrest of Dominguez brothers

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday the Dominguez car theft syndicate has been neutralized with the arrest of alleged gang co-leader Roger Dominguez. Dominguez's brother, Raymond, earlier surrendered to police authorities following the killings of Emerson Lozano and Venson Evangelista, both victims of carjack-slay in Central Luzon in January.

"They [Dominguez group] can no longer perpetrate any similar activities," said Metro Manila Police chief Director Nicanor Bartolome at a press conference at Camp Karingal in Quezon City. "We were able to place or restrict the movements and probable plans of the two in furtherance of their activities in Metro Manila and nearby regions," he added. Roger was arrested on the basis of a bench warrant of arrest issued by the Malolos, Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 11 for the complex crime of carnapping with homicide. Bartolome said the bench warrant "cancels the previous warrants and cash bonds" used by Roger to get out of jail. He has pending car theft cases. Police said they would be filing separate charges of usurpation of authority after Dominguez identified himself as a police officer when he was apprehended along Timog Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday noon for driving against the flow of traffic. Arrested along with Roger was Jayson Miranda, who later led police to a motel room in Mandaluyong City where the suspects allegedly checked in the night before. Recovered from the room were a laptop and a 9mm pistol. Bartolome said they have yet to inspect the contents of the laptop. The two suspects were subjected under a medical examination and will be brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City and turned over to the Special Investigation Task Group that is investigating the Lozano-Evangelista killings. Roger's mother Betty Dominguez dropped by Camp Karingal to visit her son. While being tight-lipped to reporters for the most part of her visit, Betty said, "Gusto ko lang po makita ang anak ko [I just wanted to see my son]." Verification made by the police showed that the Mitsubishi Outlander being driven by Dominguez is owned by his girlfriend, whom police still refused to identify. Bartolome said they would still be serving at least three more warrants of arrest issued by an Angeles City, Pampanga court against Roger for separate car theft charges.– VVP, GMA News