ILOILO City – A suspected leader of a robbery group targeting motor vehicles in Western and Central Visayas regions was arrested on March 7 in Barangay Poblacion, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
The 62-year-old Rolando Vista was a resident of Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City. He was detained at the Barotac Viejo police station.
According to Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, Iloilo police director, Vista was also using the name “Alex Lucena”.
The suspect was caught at around 10 a.m. on Saturday for traffic violations (driving a motorcycle without pertinent document and not using a helmet).
The Barotac Viejo police discovered afterwards that the motorcycle was stolen in Dumaguete, City.
A background check on Vista was conducted and the police station learned more – Vista had two standing arrest warrants for carnappping (criminal case numbers 2019-36571 and 2019-26250) in Dumaguete City.
Lucas said the Highway Patrol Group 6 was contacted and Vista’s background was further verified.
Vista was also a suspect in the stealing of a Toyota Vios in Bacolod City in January of this year.
“Akala namin simple carnapper lang pero leader pala ng carnapping group operating in regions 6 and 7,” said Lucas.
One of suspect’s group’s modus operandi is to rent vehicles from car rental services then sell the vehicles to unsuspecting people.
Vista could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
