Saturday, August 16, 2008 2 'stolen' cars end up with CIDG 7
TWO more suspected stolen luxury cars were recovered by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 from an open space in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City last Thursday.
The space where a Mitsubishi Strada (GLB 286) and Toyota Innova (YCZ 841) were found is reportedly being leased by car dealer Reynold dela Torre.
Since last month, different police units including operatives from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) have recovered a total of 23 cars, including the ones confiscated last Thursday.
The vehicles were reportedly stolen in different parts of the country and were brought to Cebu.
Of the 23 cars, 10 of these reportedly belonged to dela Torre while 13 others were confiscated in a raid inside a compound owned by dela Torre’s brother-in-law, Joseph Burt Cañete, in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.
Cañete has been charged with violations of the Anti-Fencing Law of 1979 and is currently out on bail.
CIDG 7 Deputy Director Juanito Enguerra said that at around 10:30 a.m. Last Thursday, his office received information about two vehicles parked at an open space at a corner along A. S. Fortuna St. in Banilad, Mandaue City.
Enguerra’s team coordinated with the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) and proceeded to the area to verify the report.
After taking down the plate numbers of the vehicles, Enguerra conferred with the Land Transportation Office and found out that the numbers are non-existent.
Enguerra said he called up dela Torre to ask about the vehicles and the latter promised to present proof of ownership but he reportedly failed to do so despite the “ample time” given by the operatives.
At 4:15 p.m. of the same day, the two vehicles were declared abandoned and were seized by the police.
The seizure of the vehicles were witnessed by barangay hall staffer Elizabeth Murasque and barangay public safety officer Ernesto Hubayan.
The cars were temporarily left at the open space and are being guarded by policemen from the Police Station 4 of MCPO.
Meanwhile, the MCPO and the Mabolo Police Station in Cebu City recovered a Nissan Terrano car that was reported missing at 3 a.m. yesterday.
The car (LLCK 888) owned by Nathaniel Fernando of Barangay Lahug, Cebu City was abandoned and found along A. del Rosario St. in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City at noon yesterday.
Except for a missing spare tire, no other parts were taken from the car.
Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said he directed Supt. Armando Radoc of the Mabolo Police Station to conduct an investigation.
Comendador suspected that somebody was just messing with the car owner.
He said that if it were indeed a carnapping case, the suspect would not have abandoned the vehicle after taking only a spare tire. (JST)
