Supt. Emmanuel Ughoc, deputy director for operations of the Mandaue City Police, said Mandaue City Regional Trial Court judge Ulric Cañete ordered them to turn over the van.
Ughoc told The Freeman that they informed the court of the implementation of the search warrant last Thursday.
The van was opened after Mandaue police secured a search warrant, they found three right-hand drive Mitsubishi Delica Spacegear Jasper vehicles at P2 million each.
Cebu Customs collector Lourdes Mangaoang insisted the van contained used truck parts during inspection before release from the customs zone.
Mangaoang directed the Mandaue City police to turn over the van to the Bureau of Customs.
But Mandaue City police chief S/Supt. Pablo Lamosao instead secured a search warrant from the court.
Police held the van after the driver of the prime mover was apprehended for traffic violations Tuesday evening.
Ughoc admitted that before the arrest of the driver of the prime mover, Ernesto Rufilla, he received information that a van containing stolen items was spotted in Mandaue City.
Rufilla failed to present documents of the van but he and the prime mover was released after a temporary operator's permit for traffic violations was issued.
Rufilla failed to identify the consignee of the van.
Sources said while Mangaong questioned the legality of the opening of the van, she should explain how the van turned out to contain right-hand drive vehicles instead of truck parts. - Jose P. Sollano