Gary V loses car to thieves

A group of car thieves struck anew the other night, stealing a vehicle belonging to singer-actor Gary Valenciano in San Juan.

The Philippine National Police-Traffic Management Group (PNP-TMG) said Valenciano lost his 92 model Toyota Land Cruiser (TME-300) while it was parked in front of his wife’s office at the Greenhills Shopping Complex on Ortigas Avenue in San Juan.

Superintendent Felipe Apolinario, head of TMG-Task Force Limbas, said an alarm has been flashed to all TMG units and other law enforcement agencies to recover the vehicle.

Apolinario said the car was stolen from the parking lot of Limkerka building at around 9:15 p.m. last Wednesday. Valenciano’s driver John Estinoso allegedly heard the engine of the vehicle running, prompting him to go outside.

Estinoso ran outside and followed the vehicle up to an intersection, but it sped off despite a red light. He said two men were on board.

Valenciano has been preparing for a major concert at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon to be held on Nov. 28 and 29. The concert will be held in celebration of his 20th year as an entertainer.

Nicolas Sadaya, liaison officer of Genesis Entertainment, went to the Task Force Limbas headquarters at around 10 a.m. yesterday to personally report the incident.

According to Sadaya, the tapes and compact discs to be used by Valenciano for his concert were among the items inside the Land Cruiser.

Sadaya said Valenciano was saddened by the incident because the car meant so much to him, being the first luxury vehicle he purchased from his earnings as an entertainer.

"But the show must go on," Sadaya said, quoting the popular pop artist.

It was the second time that Valenciano was victimized by car thieves. Three years ago, he lost another car while parked somewhere in Makati. – Christina Mendez, Non Alquitran