(Suspect Bin Zhang after his arrest by SBMA security officers. Photo by Malou Dungog)
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Security officers of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) arrested a Chinese national here on Sunday evening after he and a companion took a vehicle at knifepoint along the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEx).
Investigators at the SBMA Law Enforcement Department identified the suspect as Bin Zhang, 24, with address at Silver City 4 Condominium in Pasig City.
Bin was arrested by SBMA security officers at 9:05 p.m. on Sunday at the vicinity of the Subic Gateway Hub where the stolen vehicle, a white Hyundai Starex with plate number KOP-347, was recovered earlier.
Investigators said Bin did not speak any English and his companion, who is yet to be identified, still remained at large as of Monday morning.
According to complainant George Villanueva, an on-call driver from Kawit, Cavite, he picked up the two suspects at Ortigas in Manila at about 3:00 p.m. on Sunday upon the instruction of his boss, a certain Mr. Wong.
Villanueva said he was told to bring the passengers to Buma Hotel in the Subic Bay Freeport.
However, upon reaching the Tipo Gate of the SFEx at about 6 p.m., the suspects allegedly poked him with a cutter knife.
Villanueva escaped and the culprits immediately drove away toward the Subic Bay Freeport.
Villanueva thereafter sought the help of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway patrol and at 7:53 p.m. found the stolen vehicle parked near a bank along the Rizal Highway here.
Responding SBMA security officers soon apprehended Bin at the Gateway Park area at 9:05 p.m.
The suspect was later turned over to the Philippine National Police office in Hermosa, Bataan for proper filing of the case.
Under Philippine law, carnapping is a crime punishable with imprisonment for not less than 30 years and one day but not more than 40 years, when it is committed by means of violence against or intimidation of persons, or force upon things.
Aliens convicted under the provisions of the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 are to be deported immediately after service of sentence without further proceedings by the Deportation Board.
