Eight suspected members of a carnapping syndicate were arrested by police during a raid of their hideout in Valenzuela City the other night, police said Wednesday.

The raid was conducted after one of the suspects believed to be members of the Bonifacio Salvatierra Group were arrested allegedly while in the act of stealing an expensive vehicle in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

One of the suspects identified as Ronnie Bartolo pinpointed the location of the group's hideout in La Mesa Street, Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City.

Police arrested seven other suspects at the hideout following a shootout.

Police Chief Insp. Randy Maluyo, head of the Manila Police District - Anti Carnapping and Anti Hijacking (MPD-ANCAH) section, identified the arrested suspects as Rolly Bartolo, 40; Edmundo Bonifacio Millares, 26; Nathaniel Rivera, 45; Rodel Overos, 22; Armando Vergara, 52; Christopher Ducot, 26; Jomel Salvatierra, 28; and Roel Overos, 29.

Maluyo said the eight car thieves were members of the Bonifacio Salvatierra group, a known carjack gang that operates in Quezon City and eastern parts of Metro Manila.

"Itong grupo talaga ay ang pinagsamang Bonifacio group at Salvatierra group. Bali naghihiraman ng mga miyembro itong dalawang grupo. Notorious sila in the sense na ang ninakaw nila ay mga sports utility vehicle at ibang high-end na mga kotse," the police official told the Manila Bulletin.

According to Maluyo, the operation was conducted at around 10 p.m., Tuesday at #2148 La Mesa Street, Ugong in Valenzuela following the arrest of Bartolo in Sta. Mesa, Manila earlier that day.

Bartolo, who was arrested for allegedly attempting to steal a brand new, white Mitsubishi Montero owned by a certain Divino Deleos in front of AAR BF, General Insurance Corporation Office on Oroquieta Street, Sta. Cruz in Manila at around 1:20 p.m. of the same day, admitted being a member of the carnapping group led by Edmundo Bonifacio.

"Nahuli itong si Bartolo dahil sa isa sa mga pulis natin ay narinig ang isang hindi nakilalang bystander na sumigaw ng 'Carnaper' habang dalawa sa mga kasama niya ay nakatakas. Sa ginawang pagtatanong ng ating mga pulis ay umamin din ito na isang carnaper at itinuro yung mga hideout nila," he said