3 charged for selling alleged stolen cars

CEBU, Philippines - For selling alleged stolen vehicles to two traders in Cebu City, three car dealers were charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law before the Regional Trial Court yesterday.

Joan Alviso, Arlene Escuadro and Ramil Tatad have been charged after selling an alleged stolen Toyota Hi-Lux Pickup and a Toyota Rav 4 to two traders in the city last January of this year and in December 9, 2008, respectively.

Alviso and Escuadro sold the Toyota Rav 4 to Jesselito Quirante for P1 million.

Elements of the Philippine National Police Regional Highway Patrol Group spotted and flagged down the said vehicle driven by Quirante at A.S Fortuna in Banilad.

The team asked for the pertinent documents from Quirante who presented copies of registered documents under his name. The said car, he said, was sold to him by a certain Dean Chua on December 9. But that the vehicle was first registered under the name of Alviso and Escuadro prior to the transfer under his name.

Verification was then facilitated that eventually pointed to the vehicle as being included in the list of wanted/stolen motor vehicles owned by a businessman in Manila.

Ramil Tatad, on the other hand, also sold another alleged stolen vehicle, a Toyota Hi-Lux Pickup, to William and Benjamin Tan in January of this year.

The vehicle however was intercepted by the RHPG-7 after pertinent documents have been found to be anomalous.

During the interview by the RHPG-7, Tan confirmed that the said vehicle was sold to them by Tatad. He even presented copies of the open deed of sale.

The vehicle was sold to the Tans at P900,000.— Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)