Cops told: Explain “recovered” van

CEBU, Philippines - A police official and his subordinate are facing investigation for allegedly failing to report the “recovery” of a suspected stolen vehicle to their superiors in the Police Regional Office-7.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, who heads the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office and Police Officer 2 Joel Cunan, were made to explain why they did not report the Starex van allegedly recovered from Cunan’s residence by PRO-7 operatives.

Regional police director Marcelo Garbo Jr. said that by not reporting the matter, the two committed an offense.

“I told my staff to investigate the matter considering that the Starex van was recovered and located at the residence of one of the police officers of Cebu City and they did not report this recovery,” said Garbo yesterday.

Policemen in Central Visayas have recently been active in the recovery of 12 carnapped Starex vans and the arrest of five South Koreans and Raphael Montilla, a Filipino.

Through Montilla, Garbo said they learned about a Starex van that was allegedly being sold in Naga City.

“But we found out na-recover na daw ng Cebu City police,” said Garbo.

PRO 7’s Regional Intelligence Division-7 looked for the vehicle and reportedly found it parked outside Cunan’s house, Garbo further said.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, in defense of his men, said their failure to submit the report on the incident was not deliberately done to defy lawful authority.

Natu-el recalled instructing Santander to proceed to Barangay Langtad, Naga City, last February 15 to check on a Starex van which was reportedly being sold for P50,000.

Santander then proceeded to the area with policemen from the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, Naga Police Station, and the Highway Patrol Group-7.

The police eventually found the vehicle parked outside the house of Merlita Pacquiao, who, after being told by police of the series of carnapping incidents involving Starex vans, agreed to cooperate.

Pacquiao told police that the van was left to her care by her uncle who has just left for Zamboanga City.  She said a certain “Bedik” pawned the vehicle to her uncle.

Natu-el said they figured out that Bedik is Benedicto Go, son of a Talisay City councilor. Bedik, Pacquiao said, never left any documents relative to the car.

After the HPG checked that the vehicle, which had license plate numbers JDF-545, was not among the carnapped Starex vans, Natu-el said they were careful in taking it from Pacquiao, “lest it may lead to serious political and legal consequences.”

However, Pacquiao let the police to take the vehicle and help in the investigation in order to clear her name.

Upon the advice of Pacquiao’s lawyer, it was then decided that the vehicle be taken to her friend Jun Causon, who owns a car repair shop in Talisay City until her uncle returns to claim the car back.

“Contrary to what is claimed that the said Starex van was impounded in the house of PO2 Cunan, the car was in fact brought to the shop of Causon,” Natu-el said, adding that Pacquiao can attest to this.

HPG further learned that the van was registered under the name of Don Hee Kim, a Korean national, whose whereabouts are unknown.

“I did not submit any report after the said operation due to the fact that the car was neither exactly carnapped nor reported to be stolen by the HPG,” Natu-el further explained.

Suspecting that Don and Go might be involved in the series of carnapping incidents, Natu-el said he instructed Santander and his operatives to monitor Go or Don if they will claim the van from Causon’s shop.

Natu-el further said Santander called Supt. Pablo Labra II, RID-7 acting head, and informed him about the verification made on the said Starex van.

The car is currently now under PRO-7’s custody.

Garbo said Santander and Cunan will not face any sanction unless proven guilty.

“Mag e-explain muna kung ano iyong tunay. Hindi naman ura-urada. Santander is a good officer also,” the PRO-7 director said.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)