Friday, November 21, 2008 CIDG 7 nabs woman over stolen cars
AGENTS of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 arrested a female car dealer who allegedly sold stolen vehicles.
Alma T. Gonzales, 32, proprietor of GA Italia Motors, was arrested by a CIDG team led by Chief Insp. Rogarth Campo. They brought a warrant of arrest for estafa through falsification of public documents last Wednesday afternoon to Gonzales’ establishment along Si-katuna St., Barangay Zapatera, Cebu City.
Judge Estella Alma Singco of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 issued the warrant, dated Nov. 3.
Gonzales was released later that day after posting P80,000 as bail.
CIDG 7 Chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, in a news conference, said they verified that Gonzales faced at least six swindling-related complaints at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office as of August this year.
Estafa
She is also allegedly facing a separate estafa case at the RTC Branch 5.
Eleazar said the CIDG started working on the case of Gonzales after his men recovered a white Honda CRV (XSA–486) at the house of Roberto Donato in Barangay Lagtang, Talisay City, Cebu last Aug. 27.
The car was among the stolen motor vehicles listed by the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG). It was reported stolen in Barangay Habay 2, Bacoor, Cavite on Nov. 11, 2007.
Donato has filed a case against Gonzales.
Donato, who went to the CIDG 7 headquarters yesterday, told reporters his experience was “parang dinaanan ng bagyo (like getting whipped by a storm).”
More evidence
He said he paid a total of P750,000 to Gonzales.
Eleazar said they are collecting more evidence against Gonzales so that a tougher complaint can be filed against her.
Eleazar appealed to the would-be buyers of second-hand vehicles to check records at the HPG.
He said his office is also coordinating with an RTC judge whom the CIDG heard was also victimized by Gonzales.
“It’s a warning to the public that if you are planning to buy motor vehicles, have these checked first with the LTO (Land Transportation Office) or with the Highway Patrol Group. I sympathize with the buyers in good faith who will be subjected to undue embarrassment,” he said. (JTG)
