PARALLEL
PROBE. Police Insp. Elvira Lim of the Napolcom-7 confers
with Prov'l Board Member Ae Damalerio regarding operational
lapses of the PNP's Traffic Management Group (TMG) on
the seizure of eight alleged stolen cars here. Napolcom-7
and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan conducted independent
investigations regarding complaints of owners of the seized
vehicles. Foto DANNY REYES |
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The
Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) yesterday adopted a resolution
en masse urging the National Police Commission "to
seriously look into" allegations of illegal seizure
of 'hot cars' here by operatives of the Traffic Management
Group (TMG).
The
lawmakers likewise strongly recommended for legal action
against elements of the PNP's Crime Laboratory and TMG
personnel who inspected the 8 seized vehicles and declared
that these did not have tampered secret numbers.
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A
joint report by three SP committees on public utilities and
franchises, peace and order and public safety which conducted
hearings on the seizure of alleged stolen vehicles found that
7 of the 8 seized cars have yet to be verified if these were
really stolen.
The
lawmakers also questioned the procedure by which the TMG operatives
apprehended the vehicles as manifested by Isidoro Manalo,
an owner of alleged 'hot car'.
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The
TMG failed to submit documents or evidence supporting
their claim that the seized cars were carnapped.
Based
on findings from the hearings conducted by the 3 committees
co-chaired by Board Member Alfonso Damalerio II, BM
Ma. Fe Camacho-Lejos and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera,
the lawmakers recommended that there should be a closer
coordination between the PNP Crime Lab, TMG and the
Land Transportation Office (LTO) in checking, verifying
and giving clearances to a vehicle prior its registration.
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For
changes in ownership of vehicles, the TMG regional office
must issue the clearance to avoid tampering of identification,
the joint committee report stated.
It
was also urged by the SP that all data of alleged carnapped
vehicles must be provided to the local offices of the LTO,
TMG and the PNP crime lab for proper verification purposes.
Meanwhile,
dealers of second hand cars will now be required to obtain
clearance from the PNP station where the establishment is
located.
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