Cop stashes stolen car in Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines -  A manhunt has been launched for a policeman who allegedly kept a stolen car in Malacañang.

The complainant, Barbara Ruth Fernandez, 44, said her husband’s Ford Everest wagon (ZEF-985) was stolen last Jan. 8 from their garage in Cherry Homes subdivision in Bacoor, Cavite. Her laptop and a portable playstation were in the vehicle.

She said Police Officer 2 Milbert Bicol, who is with the police Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) at Malacañang, later contacted her, claiming he bought the Everest through the Internet and offered to resell it to her. He showed her one of the vehicle’s license plates and its ignition key.

When Fernandez claimed that she did not have any money, Bicol reportedly offered to swap the Everest for the Nissan Sentra parked in her garage.

When Bicol insisted that she either pay or swap cars, Fernandez said she threatened to sue him for violating the anti-fencing law. Bicol then had Fernandez execute an affidavit that she would not sue him, and promised to return the stolen vehicle to her.

However, Fernandez said Bicol reneged on his promise to return the vehicle, which prompted her to seek help from the Highway Patrol Group.

The HPG found Fernandez’s stolen vehicle parked at the PPU compound in Malacañang. PPU chief Senior Superintendent Pablo Francisco Balagtas said Bicol is one of his men, but he had gone AWOL (absent without official leave). Bicol, who has been charged with car theft, remains at large.