NBI bares black book on 'hot' cars today

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation is set to reveal today in a congressional hearing politicians and ranking government officials allegedly involved in smuggling of imported vehicles, some of which were confirmed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as stolen from the United States, an NBI official said.

The House sub-committee on customs, tariffs and other related taxes, under the committee on ways and means chaired by Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farinas, will grill NBI officials on the alleged illegal operations of Filipino businessman Lynard Allan Bigcas, a permanent resident of the United States.

NBI northern Mindanao regional director lawyer Jose Justo Yap confirmed over the weekend his attendance at the House inquiry starting at 9:30 a.m. today. He flew to Manila Friday night for the scheduled hearing.

Yap also confirmed the existence of a black book that contained names of influential and powerful people in Mindanao. He said he would be compelled to reveal their identities during the hearing.

The black book reportedly contains names of a congressman, a governor, a mayor, a police colonel, politicians, and other ranking government officials in the region.

He said the NBI is still investigating if the officials are protectors of Bigcas in his smuggling operations or buyers of the smuggled luxury cars, big bikes or high-powered firearms and ammunition.

Yap said the FBI sent a letter to NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula dated May 10, 2011, which confirmed that 11 of the at least 29 seized vehicles from the raids in Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon, were stolen from the United States and shipped to the Philippines.

He said 25 vehicles were confiscated during separate raids. Three other abandoned vehicles were recovered by the NBI in El Salvador City, another vehicle, the Dodge Charger, was surrendered to the Misamis Oriental Philippine National Police (PNP).

Based on the letter sent by the FBI Office in Houston, Texas and the Legal Office in Manila, the stolen vehicles were classified as Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Charger, Ranger RZR-All Terrain Vehicle, Honda Bike, Yamaha Bike, Kawasaki Bike, Chopper Bike, Suzuki 1000 Bike, a stunt bike, Suzuki Hayabusa GSX bike and the Martin Brothers bike.

The search for the Martin Brothers big bike, owned by Skip Woods, writer of ‘X-men Origins: Wolverine’, ‘GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra’, ‘Die Hard 5’, ‘Swordfish’ and ‘The A-Team’, led to the discovery of the stolen luxury vehicles last May 3.

Yap said the FBI investigation on the other vehicles found during the separate raids are still subject to further investigation to determine if they were also stolen.

“Their investigation is still ongoing. We are conducting a parallel investigation. We are exchanging information and results of the ongoing investigation,” he said.

The NBI has filed charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions against Bigcas before the prosecutor’s office in Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon.

Yap said that the seized firearms and ammunitions have either an expired license or no license at all.

However, he said they are still gathering all documentary evidence before filing the appropriate charges against Bigcas in connection with the smuggled cars and big bikes.

“Once we collate the documentary evidence, we will immediately file the charges for smuggling if such evidence is found,” assured Yap, even as he doubted that all the vehicles Bigcas brought into the country from the US were properly documented and that taxes and duties were paid.

Bigcas has filed charges against the NBI for “replevin and damages” for the return of the seized vehicles, which he claimed ownership, and for damages incurred because of the raids.

Yap, on the other hand, said they had subpoenaed Bigcas to appear before them on Thursday.

“We do not know if he will appear. He was asked to present importation documents on the vehicles and bikes,” he said.

Bigcas, the NBI official said, must bring all corresponding papers regarding the purchase and transport and entry of the vehicles in the Philippines.