A 37-year-old man was arrested during a hot pursuit operation after allegedly being involved in separate hit-and-run and gas-and-run incidents inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on Tuesday.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Berto,” was initially detained by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Law Enforcement Department (LED) before being turned over to Police Station 3 of the Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO).
According to reports, the LED first received a call from an SCTEX dispatcher regarding a gray Isuzu Crosswind with license plate NAI-8382 that allegedly struck and damaged property at the SCTEX Toll Gate in Dinalupihan, Bataan before fleeing the scene.
While dispatched LED officers were searching for the vehicle, they received another complaint from a Flying V Gas Station along Argonaut Highway.
The suspect allegedly refueled his vehicle and sped away without paying.
The vehicle was later spotted by LED Traffic Control Point No. 04 heading toward the Central Business District (CBD), prompting authorities to implement CODE 130, or “Close All Gates,” to prevent the vehicle from leaving the Freeport Area.
During the ensuing hot pursuit along Tipo Road, the suspect reportedly made several attempts to ram LED SWAT personnel and patrol units.
As a result, officers were forced to disable the vehicle by shooting one of its tires, leading to the driver’s arrest.
Further investigation revealed that before arriving at the Subic Bay Freeport, the suspect had allegedly committed a similar offense at a Clean Fuel station in Angono, Rizal, where he refueled and fled without paying a fuel bill amounting to ₱1,430.25.
The gas station owner reportedly attempted to chase the suspect, but the driver accelerated toward McDonald’s Aurora and struck a motorcycle while escaping.
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