Insurance scam eyed in Caloocan torched car case

MANILA, Philippines - The owner of a vehicle found burning along a highway in Caloocan City two weeks ago was charged with murder Friday afternoon in a possible insurance scam gone wrong.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, Caloocan City police investigation chief, said the case was filed against Levi Dulay, 45, before the office of assistant city prosecutor Darwin Canete.

Levi owns a Mitsubishi Adventure (WLV-586) that was torched along C-3 Road in Dagat-Dagatan, Caloocan City at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 16. The car contained a man’s body, burned beyond recognition.

Levi’s wife, Ana Marie, 43, initially claimed the body was that of her husband, who is insured for P1.8 million. Levi was found alive in a hospital in La Union on Jan. 23.

Another woman, Leticia Chua, 24, said the body could be that of her missing husband, Gildo Chua, 44. Levi and Gildo are friends. She said Gildo was seen riding Levi’s car just before the vehicle was found burning along C-3 Road.

Superintendent Filemon Purciuncula Jr., the local police crime lab chief, took the DNA of both Levi and Gildo’s relatives to determine who has the rightful claim, but Levi was found alive before the results were known.

According to Ana Marie, her husband was kidnapped and dumped by his abductors along an isolated highway. She said Levi could not clearly recall what transpired between Jan. 16, when at least four men aboard another car blocked the Adventure, with Levi and Gildo as occupants, along C-3 Road until he was found on Jan. 23 and was brought to a hospital “because he lost consciousness, was tied and blindfolded by his abductors.”

“My husband was kidnapped, he is also a victim. Why did the Caloocan City police filed a murder case against him?” Ana Marie said in a telephone interview with The STAR.