Lechon vendor owns SUV linked to mutineer

The owner of this "suspicious" luxury vehicle is not a rebel soldier, but a restaurant manager.

Darlito de Roca, who works as the general manager of Lydia’s Lechon based in Baclaran, Parañaque City, told The STAR yesterday that he, and not Ltsg. Antonio Trillanes IV, owns a Mitsubishi Pajero with license plates RIZ- 222.

The vehicle was among eight luxury vehicles purportedly owned by Trillanes, one of the leaders of the failed July 27 mutiny in Makati City.

De Roca asked: "How come (they said) that (the Pajero) is owned by Trillanes, when I bought my car brand new from the City Motors (car dealership) in Las Piñas two years ago? Ano ba ang nangyari sa ating intelligence (What is happening to our intelligence)?"

"The (Pajero) is being used by my kids in going to school," he added. "Papaano kung bigla na lang sila ratratin (What if they are suddenly shot at)?"

He is now planning to apply for a new set of license plates for his vehicle, "because I might get caught in the middle through an intelligence failure. I just sell lechon (roast pig)."

De Roca said he was able to trace the source of the story, which he claimed were only print-out documents furnished by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and original photocopies of the Pajero’s registration papers.

De Roca added he had also owned a Nissan Terrano with license plates UJW-717, but sold the vehicle to a secondhand car dealer on June 28, 2001.

"I sold the Terrano to upgrade my vehicle and I was able to buy a brand-new Pajero that same year," he said.

In a hearing of the Feliciano Commission, Trillanes denied owning a Pajero. However, Trillanes admitted he owns a second-hand Terrano, which he purchased three years ago on money loaned to him by his mother.

"I don’t own a Pajero, but a second-hand Terrano," Trillanes told the commission.

The mutineer also said his mother is engaged in a car rental business, but added that they only have three Mitsubishi Delicas, one of which was later sold.

Meanwhile, a Malacañang official twitted Trillanes for his questioned acquisition of luxury vehicles — the purchase of which were not commensurate with his declared assets and liabilities and soldier’s salary.

Presidential chief of staff Rigoberto Tiglao commented on reports Trillanes had eight luxury vehicles registered under his name at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

"So young, so corrupt... He might be a senator someday," Tiglao told The STAR and chuckled. — With Marichu Villanueva