TMG probes bogus car theft claims

The Traffic Management Group (TMG) of the Philippine National Police said yesterday it would investigate a number of car theft cases allegedly hatched by the "victims."

TMG director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan said they have uncovered a number of "carnap me" cases, a scheme devised by owners of luxury vehicles to fraudulently claim insurance.

Pan pointed out that two such cases are being investigated by TMG investigators in the wake of an upsurge of carjacking cases in Metro Manila.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation on the cases and if there is enough evidence, appropriate charges will be filed against the scheming owners," Pan said during a press conference at Camp Crame yesterday.

The TMG chief cited the case of a 2006 model Mercedes Benz SLK that was "stolen" on March 29.

Pan said the driver of the silver SLK (ZCM-123), Mark Filamberg Cheung Beran, told police his P4.2-million luxury vehicle was stolen at gunpoint by unidentified men in front of TIP in Quiapo, Manila at 10:30 p.m.

The car theft was reported by a TV news program the following day.

Pan said their investigation revealed that the registered owner of the Mercedes Benz was one Emilio Ong, who actually sold the vehicle for P1 million to a casino financier identified as Alma Gonzales.

A follow-up probe conducted by Superintendent Elmer Soria, chief of the TMG National Capital Region, revealed that the car was reported stolen 12 hours after Ong sold the vehicle to Gonzales.

Ong claimed he sold his car because he needed money to play at the casino. Gonzales, upon seeing the news report on the stolen vehicle, immediately called up Ong.

She said the man who sold her the SLK merely laughed when she sought a clarification.

Gonzales presented to the TMG yesterday copies of the notarized deed of sale, which she and Ong signed as proof of their transaction. She also turned over the vehicle to the TMG.

Pan said they would file perjury charges against Ong and Beran for allegedly making up the car theft story.

Case of the missing SUV

Pan said the other case involved a 2006 model Nissan Patrol, which was reportedly stolen last March 31 while parked at the Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

A car salesman claimed that he and his boss went to the mall to meet a man interested in buying the vehicle for P2.55 million.

The salesman claimed that while inside the mall, he lost his clutch bag containing the keys to the Patrol while inside the rest room.

After rushing to the parking lot, he and his boss discovered that the vehicle was missing.

The story was a tall tale, Pan said.

"He claimed he lost his things inside the toilet. If somebody took his things, including the keys, it would be impossible for that person to quickly determine the location and type of vehicle since there were so many cars parked there," the TMG said.

Pan said the TMG would be filing criminal cases against persons found to have concocted or conspired with each other in reporting that their vehicles were stolen, forcibly or while parked.

He said the anti-car theft unit has strengthened its coordination with the Association of Insurance Companies during a recent meeting at TMG headquarters.

During the meeting, they underscored the role of insurance companies in addressing car theft cases, among which are identifying winning bidders of wrecked motor vehicles and buyers of registration papers.

For their part, insurance firms sought the immediate restoration of the shipment clearance as well as the strict observance of the 90-day search period before the issuance of a certificate of non-recovery (CNR).

Meanwhile, the TMG chief also ordered an investigation on the case involving a Ford Expedition (XSS-988) surrendered by Dina Ludovica, wife of a barangay captain in Filinvest II, Batasan, Quezon City after it was discovered that the license plate was originally issued to a Toyota Vios owned by one Ronnel Landico.

"Our information showed that the Expedition was among the motor vehicles disposed by the Valle Verde Gang sometime last year," he said.