17 hot cars seized

CEBU, Philippines - Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 seized at least 17 right-hand drive vehicles from a car shop in Barangay San Roque, Talisay City, last Friday morning.

Police also arrested the shop owner, Gary Lapinid, 57, who denied owning the cars believed to have been smuggled from Japan.  All were estimated at P5 million.

The CIDG team raided the car shop armed with a search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Wilfredo Navarro.

Chief Insp. Errol Garchitorena, Jr., the team leader, said they conducted surveillance on GML Auto Spareparts Dealer Co. after receiving a report last Wednesday that a 40-footer container van dropped off “suspicious” cars there.

He said the shop was reportedly covered with tarpaulin while the cars were being unloaded.

After confirming that the cars were RHD units, Garchitorena said they applied for a search warrant against Lapinid, whom he said is under watch for allegedly selling suspected smuggled vehicles.

They recovered six Nissan Cubes, four Toyota BBs, two Mitsubishi Colts, a Suzuki Swift, a Honda Mobilio, a Toyota Yaris, a Toyota Colt and a Toyota RUNX.

Lapinid, who presented a valid business permit, said he only served as broker and receives a commission from the sold vehicles. 

The businessman, who reportedly receives shipments twice a month, declined to disclose his financier, said Garchitorena.

Lapinid will face a complaint for violation of Republic Act 8506, which bans the importation, registration and operation of RHD vehicles.

The confiscated cars are now under CIDG custody and will be turned over to the Bureau of Customs. 

Smugglers often label cars as spare parts so they can import these into the country.

Once in the Philippines, RHDs are converted into left-hand cars which are unreliable and a traffic hazard, Garchitorena said.

The CIDG official advised the public to report similar vehicles that are acquired suspiciously.  — /BRP (FREEMAN)