Bukas Kotse gang back in business?

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

WARNING to car owners: the dreaded Bukas Kotse gang might be back in Iloilo City.

The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is on its toes once more after a car parked along Diversion Road in Mandurriao district was robbed by unidentified suspects Thursday evening.

The suspects smashed the glass windshield of the car and stole P600 cash owned by the driver. The modus operandi is similar to the methods used by car thieves who plagued Iloilo City in 2009 until early 2010.

S/Supt. Dennis Basngi, ICPO director, said he immediately alerted intelligence operatives to verify and track down the gang if indeed they have returned in the city.

Basngi said they will not wait for another car robbery to happen and react against the suspects.

“Whether it’s the Bukas Kotse gang, plain robbers or naughty boys around, we will no take this for granted and find out who is behind this incident,” he said.

Even Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, who is currently in the United States, sent warnings via text messages regarding the return of car thieves.

Basngi advised establishments to be vigilant against the Bukas Kotse gang who might prowl their parking lots.

“We are doing everything to stop them this early but we will need the cooperation of our business establishments in watching over their premises against robbers,” Basngi said.

Based on ICPO records, around 31 cases of car robberies happened in Iloilo City from February to August 29, 2009.

The incidents slowed down in October to November 2009 only to resurge during the Holiday season.

On January 27, 2010, the ICPO nabbed five persons responsible for four successive car robberies on the said day.

Arvin Pablico, 28, Francisco Reyes, 32, Benjamin Salvacion, 38, all of Brgy. Silway Gen. Santos City; Faustino Lumaniog, 38, of Libmanan Camarines Sur; and Jade Cariño, 29, of Landheights Tambo, Brgy. Sabang, Lipa City were arrested in Room 202 of Moritz Hotel in Lopez Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City.

The police recovered from the suspects items stolen from four cars parked in Jaro and Mandurriao districts.

The suspects managed to post bail and immediately fled Iloilo City.

The police believe that the Bukas Kotse gang is a national syndicate that operates in major cities.