4 men ARRESTED! Stolen Cagayan councilor’s SUV traced by CCTV, intercepted in Nueva Vizcaya

AMULUNG, Cagayan — Four men were arrested after a vehicle owned by a municipal councilor in Cagayan was reportedly stolen and later intercepted at a checkpoint in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya on September 14.

Police identified two of the suspects by their aliases, “Roman” and “Sonny,” who were allegedly aboard the stolen vehicle. Their alleged companions, identified as “Joel” and “Jules,” were arrested while travelling in another vehicle.

The vehicle owner is a 38-year-old member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Amulung.

According to a police report obtained by local media, the councilor’s white Toyota Fortuner was taken from a vehicle shop in Amulung. The incident was immediately reported to authorities, prompting police to issue a flash alarm to alert other units.

Police used CCTV footage to trace the vehicle’s route, eventually leading to its interception at the Border Control Checkpoint in Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, near Balete Pass.

The operation was conducted by personnel of the 2nd Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Santa Fe Municipal Police Station.

Police recovered the Toyota Fortuner, along with the councilor’s firearm and ammunition, inside the vehicle.

Initial investigation showed that the vehicle had allegedly been pawned to the councilor for ₱500,000. The person who pawned the vehicle reportedly turned it over to the councilor together with its key.

The four suspects, reportedly residents of Muntinlupa City and Parañaque, remain in police custody.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the specific participation of each suspect in the alleged theft and to prepare the appropriate charges.

The case follows a separate robbery and carnapping incident in Alicia, Isabela, where four suspects were arrested after a Toyota Hilux was allegedly stolen on July 15.

In that case, police also used CCTV footage to trace the stolen vehicle, which was later recovered in Cauayan City.

Police said the suspects allegedly took the vehicle key from the victim’s residence before driving away with the Hilux. Four suspects were subsequently arrested, while another alleged principal suspect remained at large.