HPG probes gov't execs' link to carjack gangs

MANILA, Philippines - The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is looking into the link of some government officials and employees, particularly in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to carjacking syndicates in areas where stolen vehicles secured “clean” official receipts (OR) and certificates of registration (CR).

HPG director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina said they were puzzled how several vehicles stolen from Metro Manila were given clean papers from the LTO in Visayas and Mindanao.

 “We are checking the extent of the operations of the carnapping group behind about 20 percent of (car thefts) in the country. Why are stolen vehicles given clean papers?” he said.

Last February, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said the names of around 13 officials and personnel of the LTO and Philippine National Police (PNP) have cropped up in the initial stage of the investigation on car thefts.

Robredo said he would reveal the names of the police and LTO officials and personnel only after concrete evidence has been established against them. No announcement has been made so far.

The investigation was conducted after the murder of Emerson Lozano, Venson Evangelista and Lozano’s co-employee Ernani Sensil on Jan. 14, which authorities believed were connected with a syndicate’s carjacking activities.

Alleged masterminds Raymond Dominguez and his brother, Roger, have been jailed and charged for the murders but they denied the allegations.

The HPG asked the public to call them for assistance. HPG Luzon (726-1261 to 62), HPG Visayas (032-2339579 and 032-4122143) and HPG Mindanao (082-2970405).

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome reiterated his call for the implementation of a clearance system for motor vehicles shipped from Metro Manila to Visayas and Mindanao.

Bartolome said he saw the immediate need for imposing a clearance system in ports after the HPG recovered 29 motor vehicles reportedly stolen from Quezon City and other parts of Metro Manila and sold to victims in Visayas and Mindanao.

Espina said HPG investigators have uncovered an elaborate modus operandi of a group that involves actual carjacking in Luzon, shipment and tampering of vehicle identification numbers, processing of spurious vehicle registration documents and eventual resale of these stolen vehicles to unsuspecting buyers in Visayas and Mindanao.