Police chief asks for closure of probe of “cannibalization”

CEBU, Philippines - Since there are no complaints about missing parts, Talisay City Police Station acting chief Resty Santos has sought the closure of the investigation on alleged cannibalization of motorcycles.

“Since, this office did not receive any complaints of missing parts from owners of the reported motorcycles that are in the custody of the Talisay Police Office pertaining the issue of ‘cannibalization of their vehicles… wherefore... the herein investigator humbly and respectfully recommends that this instant issue be considered as dropped and closed,” read the memorandum of Santos dated Oct. 27.

The three-page document was submitted to the Cebu Provincial Police Office director.

Santos’ investigation on alleged cannibalization of impounded motor vehicles came after the CPPO director himself radioed his office following a news report published in The Freeman Metro last Oct. 23 entitled “Talisay City Councilor to investigate cannibalization of impounded motorcycles.”

The article was written by Banat News and The Freeman reporter Brenda Batuto who was able to secure a copy of the video of a man caught on camera while removing parts of the impounded motorcycles.

The video appears to be taken from inside the Talisay City Police Station, just a few steps from the chief’s office.

But Santos said that what was seen on the video was a field training policeman and augmented PNP personnel from CPPO he had instructed to inventory all confiscated motorcycles “including chassis and engine numbers” following an order from the headquarters. 

“PInsp Al Pascual, deputy chief of police, instructed them to wear civilian clothes because some of the motorcycles that are stored in the impounding area for how many years are bound to be filthy,” read Santos’ report.

In the video, a man standing about 5 feet tall appears to be busy removing motor parts from at least one motorcycle.

He then brings the parts away from the impounding area and outside of the range of the camera.

Santos maintained that the news report has “no sufficient grounds” to state that the motorcycles were removed of their parts as they have retained all these from the time he assumed post in July 1 this year “up to the present.” 

“The foregoing discussions and findings, there are vivid indications that the investigator concluded that this issue was exaggerated and may be misinterpreted by the onlookers, bystanders, and other concerned citizens,” he said.

Meanwhile, following the incident, Mayor Johnny V. Delos Reyes issued a statement asking the CPPO to replace Santos because of lack of trust and confidence. – (FREEMAN)