Thursday, November 13, 2008 Owner of seized cars clears PASG
THE registered owner of some seized vehicles cleared yesterday a government agency of allegations that the cars had lost important parts or had been tampered with.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 9 inspected 18 vehicles seized by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) and found out that these were all intact. They were in the same state as when they were taken from Song Pa Trading in Mandaue City.
Michael Nengasca, accompanied by lawyer Paulene Marie Martin, appeared for Song Pa.
Each time a vehicle was inspected, the court asked Nengasca to see if there were any changes from the time the unit was taken from Song Pa.
Cars intact
Nengasca confirmed the vehicles were intact. The 18 vehicles included sedans, Kia Sportage units and Hyundai cars of different models.
In a hearing conducted at the PASG parking area where the vehicles are stored, Judge Geraldine Faith Econg also ordered Nengasca to appear during another hearing tomorrow. This will focus on Song Pa’s motion to quash the search warrant used in seizing the vehicles.
Nengasca, the registered owner of Song Pa, told the court he is only an employee whose job is to purchase spare parts for vehicles under repair.
He further told the court that Song Pa buys and sells used Korean cars, but that he doesn’t know the owners of the seized vehicles.
Nengasca said he only knew one of the Korean owners of the company as “Mr. Lee.”
Allegations closed
Noel Villamor of PASG and PASG counsel Pete Salva said that Nengasca himself admitted to the court that the vehicles were intact, so the allegations about missing parts are already closed.
Jojo Collantes, deputy director of PASG Cebu, earlier explained to the court that the 18 vehicles were intact but that these were mixed with other seized vehicles.
He said he already resigned from PASG and that the new operatives present when the court first inspected the vehicles pointed to the wrong units.
After the inspection and hearing, Judge Econg said she can already resolve the matter. (EOB)
