SARIAYA, Quezon – A tanker carrying crude oil and unleaded gasoline worth P1.5 million was hijacked Wednesday, June 15, this town.
Police are now tracking down the four suspected hijackers who left Eman Molejon, 28, of Barangay Sta. Catalina, Atimonan, this province, the driver of the truck owned by 4M Transport and Sales Corp., on Eco-Tourism Road here.
The suspected hijackers were identified as Vincent Reyes, 31, of Barangay Lual Barrio, Mauban, this province; Phillip Magtanggol, an alias “Joli,” and an alias “Joey” through a smartphone that they left in the tanker and recovered by police.
Investigation showed that the tanker had just left the Azora depot in Barangay Castañas, Sariaya for Lucena City when the suspects forcibly boarded the vehicle and instructed Molejon at gunpoint to divert it to the Eco-Tourism Road. One of them took the wheel and ordered Molejon to sit at the back and blindfolded him.
Molejon said he was ditched by the suspects along the way and untied himself after they had left. He sought the assistance of Police Staff Sgt. Lowel Jess Zubia and Police Patrolman Genesis Vila who were patrolling the area.
Police tailed the truck until the junction of the Eco-Tourism Road in Barangay Manggalang Bantilan where the suspects noticed the approaching police patrol car. They stopped and jumped off from the tanker and escaped.
The victim was unharmed and taken to the Sariaya police station for further investigation.
Police noticed that the tanker’s dashcam was missing, a crucial clue that could further shed light on the incident.