Highway patrol defends holding of sports car

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Highway Patrol Unit (RHPU)-7 defended their decision not to release the luxury sports car of a client of lawyer Noel Archival despite a court order Thursday.

Archival and a court sheriff went to the RHPU office to implement the writ of replevin issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Simeon Dumdum of Branch 7. But he was surprised when the vehicle was not released.

Supt. Eduardo Mara, deputy chief of the RHPU-7, said that suspect Maria Paz Yu managed to secure a writ of replevin from the court although the RHPU did not receive court summons.

Mara explained that the RHPU has the right to refuse to release the BMW 750i Active Hybrid 7, the vehicle subject of the writ of replevin.

“Summon unta unang ihatag stating nga duna silay property nga kuhaon pero ang nahitabo writ of replevin na man ang gi-serve,” Mara said in an interview.

The luxury vehicle is one of the motor vehicles included in the search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Alexander Acosta of Branch 9.

The RHPU and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Highway Patrol Group Intelligence Division recovered the vehicles at the basement parking of Casino Español de Cebu on V. Ranodo Street, Barangay, Cogon-Ramos, Cebu City.

The luxury vehicle was registered under the name of Maria Paz Yu, the mother in law of Joven Tan Entote who was earlier arrested and jailed in Manila for carnapping charges.

RHPU revealed that during investigation, the plate number of the vehicle (NQI 707) was not manufactured by the Land Transportation Office plate-making plant and the said alphanumeric is intended for a Toyota corolla and not for a BMW 750i.

It was also found that the suspects falsified documents like the PNP Crime Laboratory Macro-etching certificate and PNP HPG Motor Vehicle Clearance Certificate.

Entote was arrested but the case against him was dismissed and he was acquitted.  (FREEMAN)