Despite Pilar Pilapil case, carjacking down in 2011 - PNP

Despite the recent carjacking and attack on veteran actress Pilar Pilapil, statistics from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that car thefts have gone down so far this year. Data obtained by GMA News Online from the PNP's Highway Patrol Group showed that the number of carjacking cases in the first quarter of 2011 declined by almost half over the same period last year. In the months of January to March 2011, there were 255 reported carjacking cases versus 389 cases in the first quarter of 2010 —a decline of 47.9 percent. The data showed that, starting January 2011 (with a reported 109 cases), car theft incidents were already on the decline, and by March only 57 incidents were reported. Authorities also found that cases of motorcycle theft dropped by 52.94 percent, while cases of four-wheeled motor vehicle theft went down by 40.2 percent. The report indicated that most cases of car theft involved stealing the vehicles while their owners are not around (73.3 %). Cases were vehicles were taken away from owners at gunpoint constituted to 19.6 percent of all the cases. NCR, QC most prone to car thefts Metro Manila is the main source of stolen vehicles, accounting to 84.7 percent of the total number of thefts. The Calabarzon and Central Luzon regions came in second and third place, respectively. In Metro Manila, the most number of car theft cases was recorded in Quezon City, with 24 percent of all cases happening therein. Manila, Marikina, and Pasig followed Quezon City on the list. Pilapil, Lozano cases Pilapil was traveling in Marikina City with a female companion —reportedly her partner's niece— when they were attacked by suspected car thieves. The two were brought to Antipolo, Rizal, where Pilapil was stabbed then dumped in a grassy area in the city, while her companion was kidnapped. The suspects, as well as Pilapil's companion, have yet to be found as of posting time. Meanwhile, the notorious Dominguez brothers, Raymond and Roger, along with at least three other arrested accomplices, are all facing fresh charges of car theft and murder. Authorities said that the Dominguez brothers have pending cases outside Metro Manila but were able to walk free on bail. Raymond surrendered to police authorities following the killings of Emerson Lozano and Venson Evangelista, both victims of carjack-slay in Central Luzon in January. On February 10, Roger was apprehended in Quezon City, not for the car theft charges against him, but for a traffic violation. He was later detained 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. Lozano and Evangelista, both car dealers based in Metro Manila, were separately found dead in Central Luzon, with gunshot wounds to their heads, and their bodies burned beyond recognition. - TJD, GMA News