22-year-old arrested after refusing to return borrowed motorcycle, faces carnapping case in Tabuk

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — A 22-year-old man was arrested after allegedly failing to return a motorcycle he had borrowed from its owner, resulting in a carnapping case following the recovery of the vehicle in Barangay Magsaysay, Tabuk City, on August 21.

The motorcycle was recovered after its owner received information that the vehicle had been seen in San Vicente, Barangay Magsaysay.

The owner, identified by the alias “Bossing,” sought assistance from the Highway Patrol Group (HPG)-Kalinga to locate and recover the motorcycle.

According to a spot report from the Provincial Highway Patrol Team-Kalinga obtained by GURU Press Cordillera, Bossing contacted the HPG at around 2 p.m. on August 21.

He told police that the person who had borrowed his motorcycle allegedly failed to return it. An informant had also reportedly spotted the vehicle at the residence of the suspect’s uncle in San Vicente.

Borrowed motorcycle recovered; suspect arrested

Acting on the information, HPG-Kalinga personnel led by PCpt. Jordan Bongat proceeded to Barangay Magsaysay in coordination with Tabuk City Police Station (CPS) personnel led by PCpt. Ernesto A. Gayyad Jr., under the supervision of PLTCOL. Romar I. Pacis, chief of police.

The joint operation resulted in the recovery of the motorcycle and the arrest of the 22-year-old suspect, identified by the alias “Cardo.”

The recovered vehicle was identified as a gray-and-black Honda Click ACB125.

The motorcycle and the arrested suspect were brought to the HPG-Kalinga office for documentation and further investigation.

Why a carnapping case?

Following his arrest, Cardo was informed of his constitutional rights and his rights under Republic Act No. 9745, or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009, in Ilokano, which he reportedly understood.

He was subsequently brought to the City Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings for carnapping.

According to the HPG-Kalinga’s initial progress report dated August 22, the case folder was received and docketed by the prosecutor’s office under Docket No. 11-13-1NQ-26H-00091.

The suspect was initially detained at the Tabuk City Police Station while the case was being processed before being turned over to the Kalinga District Jail on August 26 in connection with the carnapping case.

Meanwhile, the recovered motorcycle will undergo macro-etching examination by the Provincial Forensic Unit of Kalinga as part of the investigation.

HPG chief: Return borrowed vehicles

Following the incident, HPG-Kalinga chief PCpt. Jordan Bongat reminded people who borrow vehicles to return them when the registered owner asks for them, particularly when there is no written agreement allowing continued use.

Bongat said refusing to return a borrowed vehicle despite the owner’s demand may result in a carnapping complaint, depending on the circumstances of the case.

He stressed that being allowed to use another person’s vehicle does not give a borrower the right to keep it without the owner’s permission.

“Nu adda binulod mo nga lugan, isublim ta mabalin ka makasuan ti carnapping,” Bongat warned.