The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has recovered a stolen Toyota Hilux pickup and arrested the suspected carnapper during a joint law-enforcement hot pursuit in the province of Nueva Ecija on November 29, 2025.

According to a report sent to HPG Director Police Brigadier General Hansel M. Marantan, personnel of the Provincial Highway Patrol Team (PHPT) Nueva Ecija (Lead Unit of RHPU 3), together with operatives from San Jose CPS, Rizal MPS, Pantabangan MPS, and 2nd PMFC-NEPPO conducted a joint hot-pursuit operation following a reported theft of a motor vehicle.

Initial investigation revealed that the Toyota Hilux (NAX 7969) was stolen while parked unattended (SWAPU) in front of the Barangay Hall of Brgy. San Juan, San Jose City at around 10:45 AM.

Acting on information and intelligence coordination, the team recovered the vehicle abandoned along the shoulder of the road in Brgy. Poblacion Sur, Rizal, Nueva Ecija.

At around 3:00 PM on the same date, the operating units conducted a follow-up operation that resulted in the arrest of a 38-year-old male suspect, a construction worker and resident of Brgy. San Juan, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija (identity withheld pursuant to the Data Privacy Act), in the area of Brgy. Cambitala, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

The arrest was conducted in compliance with Supreme Court Administrative Matter No. 21-06-08-SC (Use of Body-Worn Cameras and Alternative Recording Devices in the Execution of Warrants and Arrests).

The suspect was apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he fully understood, and alternative recording devices (ARDs) were utilized to document the operation for transparency and accountability.

The recovered Toyota Hilux and the arrested suspect are presently under the custody of PHPT-Nueva Ecija for documentation and processing.

A criminal complaint for Violation of Republic Act 10883 (New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016) is being prepared for filing before the proper judicial authority.