The leader of a carnapping group operating across the Western and Central Visayas was nabbed over the weekend in Barotac Viejo’s Barangay Poblacion.

Authorities identified the arrested suspect as 62-year-old Rolando Vista, a resident of the Paglaum Village in Bacolod City’s Barangay Mansilingan. Law enforcement personnel noted, he also went by the alias of Alex Lucena, a supposed resident of Barangay Tanza Baybay in Iloilo City’s City Proper district.
According to Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director, Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas, the suspect was arrested around 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning on a traffic violation. Police later found out the motorcycle he was operating was reported stolen in Dumaguete City and a subsequent background check revealed he had two outstanding arrest warrants.
“Akala namin simple na carnapper lang pero leader pala ng carnapping group operating in Region 6 and 7 (We thought he was just a mere carnapper but he turned out to be the leader of a carnapping group operating throughout the Western and Central Visayas,” the IPPO chief said. “He has pending cases of carnapping in Dumaguete City and Bacolod City.”
The suspect reportedly leads a group of his namesake, which operates by selling vehicles acquired through rental services.
Aside from carnapping charges, Vista is also charged in violation of Article 178 of the Revised Penal Code, which prohibits the use of a fictitious name and concealing one’s true name./WDJ