Mayor’s son accused of ‘carjacking’ dump truck

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The son of an Iloilo town is accused of waylaying a truck driver morning of September 15, 2021.

Raul Peñas, 51, of Salazar Street, San Miguel, Iloilo, told police investigators that he came from a quarry site at Sitio Matingkong when Peter Paul Cabangal, son of Banate Mayor Carlos Cabangal, and another man blocked his path at Barangay Juanico around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Peñas is working for Panay Mineral Hub Sales Corporation (PMHSC).

Peter Paul’s uncle, Norman Cabangal, is the quarry permittee while PMHSC acts as the operator.

The truck was loaded with filling materials when the incident happened.

Peter Paul allegedly ordered Peñas to get off the truck and told him that they would drive the vehicle.

The driver said he obeyed out of fear.

Peter Paul’s companion commandeered the truck while he followed onboard a white sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Thirty minutes after the incident, a man believed to be working for Peter Paul surrendered the truck’s key to the police station.

The truck was parked at Galleria de Banate and was taken to the police station at 10:48 a.m.

In a report prepared by Staff Sergeant Joelito Babayo II and signed by Lieutenant Randy Lambungan, Banate police chief, the vehicle was released to Peñas around 1 p.m. of the same day.

It was released “after Peñas’ manifestation that he is not willing to file civil or criminal complaint against Peter Paul Cabangal.”

Norman, meanwhile, claimed that his nephew was trying to make it appear that he (Norman) owes the latter money.

The supposed “debt” was a “commission” for a transaction that did not push through.

Norman claimed that Peter Paul transacted to buy filling materials for the esplanade being built along the Banate coastline, but it fell through.

Despite that, Peter Paul still wanted to get his commission, thinking that Norman owed him money.

Meanwhile, Peter Paul has yet to give his version of the incident.