Bucayu identified the suspect as Edwin Balla Madrigal, 35, married, and temporary resident in San Cristobal, Bangar, La Union.

Bucayu reported that the suspect went to Bangar Wednesday night to visit his common-law wife, Grace Mahinay, on board a Honda City car with plate No. WNM 576.

He parked the car at a compound near the house of a certain Bobby Tuvera who later informed policemen that the car was parked there without his consent.

At 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Madrigal was about to drive away the car, but the police operatives, who were waiting for him, immediately arrested him based on warrants issued by Judge Danilo Manalastas of Malolos City, Bulacan.

Supt. Sterling Raymund Blanco, chief intelligence officer, said that Madrigal told the arresting policemen that he had parked the car there so that his wife would not notice that he has a new car.

But policemen were not convinced, suspecting that the vehicle was stolen.

Blanco said that verification showed that the car was registered in the name of a certain Mary Grace Lapitan of Lot 8, Block 3, Magnolia St., Phase 4, Tres Hermanas Village, Mayamot, Antipolo City

Police also found out that Madrigal is using a driver’s license with the name of Andy Santos, but the ID photo attached to it was his picture.

Police seized from him 25 assorted pointed keys that were suspected to be his instruments in forcibly opening vehicles.

Bucayu said that the suspect is facing various cases of car thefts in Metro Manila and Bulacan. His brother Randy Madrigal is now detained in a Bulacan jail for carnapping charges, he said.

The suspect was temporarily detained in the Bangar municipal jail, pending filing of charges against him.

The police probers were coordinating with the Traffic Management Group in other cases involving the suspect.