4 stolen cars seized, 2 others held

CEBU, Philippines - At least four carnapped vehicles from outside Cebu have been recovered by the Highway Patrol Group in Central Visayas while two other vehicles were found to have spurious documents.

HPG-7 chief Felixberto Castillo said the vehicles which were initially impounded for traffic violation include a Mitsubishi Pajero, Honda CRV, Mitsubishi Lancer and Mitsubishi Adventure.

The HPG-7 found out through their Vehicle Information System that the said vehicles were carnapped in Las Piñas City, Ortigas Center in Pasig City and Cagayan De Oro City.

Castillo said two other vehicles Chevrolet Captiva and Isuzu Crosswind were found to have bogus documents. Based on their investigation the two vehicles have tampered chassis and engine numbers.

Castillo said that these vehicles were initially impounded because of traffic violations during their anti-carnapping operations last week in the different areas in Cebu City.

According to the HPG-7, these vehicles were either carnapped while being parked or forcibly taken from their driver or owner. Castillo said they are filing criminal charges against the present registered owners of the vehicles.

The owner or driver of these vehicles were initially taken into custody but were later released pending the laboratory examination. Castillo explained that they could not detain the drivers/ owners of the vehicles at the time of the impounding because the results of the macro-etching tests take sometime. — (FREEMAN)