Motorist sees car's 'twin' in QC

MANILA, Philippines -  Imagine being in your vehicle, cruising along EDSA, and seeing another car bearing exactly the same license plates as yours.

That is exactly what happened to Imelda Dioquino, who spotted a taxicab with a plate number identical to that on her Isuzu Asian utility vehicle (AUV) on Monday afternoon.

Dioquino’s AUV, used as a school service – with plate number TXT-139 – was on the northbound lane on EDSA with her on board at around 3 p.m. when she spotted the taxi parked on the sidewalk.

Dioquino immediately called up the police, resulting in the apprehension of the taxicab and its driver, said Superintendent Audie Madrideo, commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 2.

In an interview, Madrideo said they were able to talk to the operator of the taxicab, who claimed he had bought the vehicle, a Toyota Vios, from its original owner based in Antipolo City.

“The name of the said original owner is the same one appearing in its certificate of registration,” Madrideo said.

According to the police official, he had requested the Land Transportation Office to pull out the records of the taxi to double-check its registration papers. “At face value, the (license) plates appear legitimate,” Madrideo told The STAR.

Madrideo also revealed it was not the first time that Dioquino had been in such a situation.

A few years ago, she had also seen another taxi bearing the same plates as the ones attached to her AUV. She only confronted the driver and operator of the taxicab, who eventually surrendered the plates to her.

“She still has the copy of the papers of the first taxicab and it was certainly different from the second one we apprehended,” Madrideo said.

The police official said Dioquino had even received tips that there were three taxicabs bearing the same plate number as her AUV.