Police have recorded another gas-and-run case in Quezon City, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
In a press conference, Tuaño said the incident happened in the early hours of May 3, 2026, at a gasoline station on Mindanao Avenue, where the suspect left a P1,500 bill unpaid. He said the incident was reported only on May 4.
Through the help of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, investigators have identified the plate number of the vehicle and its owner. Tuaño said charges of theft will be filed against the driver.
The incident is the fourth gas-and-run incident recorded in the country amid the surge of fuel prices brought about by the conflict in the Middle East. Three were recorded in Quezon City, while one was reported in Bacolod.
“This remains an isolated case because, as we have said, out of more than 4,100 gasoline stations nationwide, it does not dictate the overall peace and order strategy being carried out by the PNP to assist the Department of Energy or the government as a whole in addressing the crisis we are facing,” said Tuaño.
PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered his men to beef up monitoring of so-called gas-and-run incidents, amid efforts to prevent the crime from escalating into a more common modus operandi.
“In fact, that is included in the instruction of the PNP chief to the regional directors when he ordered an audit of the performance of our provincial directors and chiefs of police. He said that units with a high number of incidents related to gasoline stations would be included in the audit,” said Tuaño.
“There are two things that can be reported in relation to the crisis in the Middle East. First, these are police-initiated operations; second, these are points against police units that have recorded incidents like what happened here,” he added.
