Combined operatives of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) have apprehended the suspected “godfather” of all carnapping syndicates in the country in an operation in Cebu City recently.
PAOCC chairman Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. identified the suspect as Jovel Tan Entote, 43. He was nabbed at about 10:30 p.m., last Aug. 7 at the parking lot of Casino Espanol de Cebu on V. Ranodo Street, Barangay, Cogon, Ramos, Cebu City.
Entote was reportedly the one financing notorious carjacking syndicates like the Dominguez, Salvatierra, Bonifacio, Onad Santiago and Baktin groups, which had all been neutralized by the PAOCC and HPG in their previous operations.
He was also responsible for the 67 stolen cars, mostly sports utility vehicles that the PAOCC and HPG have recovered in the province of Bohol and the cities of Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos since last year, the PAOCC said.
PAOCC executive director, Chief Supt. Reginald Villasanta in a press conference at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday said Entote had been hiding for three years to escape arrest for the killing of one Rodolfo Petalino, a carjack victim in 2009.
Entote was said to be the principal suspect in the killing of Petalino after he carjacked a Toyota Hi Ace Grandia in April 2009 in Katipunan Road, Quezon City.
The HPG, the PAOCC and the PNP Region VII arresting operatives were armed with a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Eleuterio Bathan of Quezon City Regional Trial Branch 92 for qualified carnapping.
The PAOCC considered Entote its “biggest catch” since it launched a crackdown against carjacking last February, together with the PNP-HPG.
The court had ordered Entote held without bail on a charge of qualified carnapping. He has been detained at Camp Crame since Aug. 9 when he was flown to Manila from Cebu.
Entote, who hails from Banilad, Cebu City, was positively identified by two witnesses as the gunman who shot Petalino.
At the same time, the PAOCC had discovered that Entote maintains warehouses in the cities of Cebu and Davao that serve as “rebirthing” facilities for motor vehicles stolen in Luzon.
The police have recovered three allegedly stolen vehicles from Entote in a follow-up operation held two days after his arrest.  They were expected to seize four more “hot cars” in his possession.  
Rebirthing is the process of tampering with, repainting and detailing work to give stolen cars a “new look” before they are offered for resale under new registration.