25-23 stolen cars surrendered
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CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Nov. 22 (PNA) -- The Police Regional
Office 3 (PRO) yesterday was the first of all the police regional
headquarters in the country to "surrender" to Camp Crame in Quezon
City at least 23 assorted carnapped vehicles recovered in the region
in the past several years.
The vehicles, mostly cars of different models and brands, were in
turn "surrendered" to the Traffic Management Group (TMG) by the
police officers who used them either for personal or official
function.
Chief Supt. Roberto L. Calinisan, Central Luzon police director,
said the "surrendered" vehicles were brought on a convoy to Camp
Crame by the TMG personnel for turnover to Director Panfilo Lacson,
the newly-designated Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
The TMG convoy team was led by Supt. George Corpuz, TMG 3
regional officer.
Calinisan said the "surrendered" vehicles had been recovered due
to the on-going intensified anti-carnapping campaign launched by the
different police units in the region.
Most of the cars were being used as evidence in the
anti-carnapping charges filed against arrested and detained suspected
carnappers.
But instead of impounding them, some police officers opted to use
them for their personal or official activities.
Informed about this rampant use by the police officers of the
recovered stolen vehicles, Lacson immediately issued a stern warning
to this effect in a speech upon his assumption to office as PNP chief
last Nov. 16.
"Return the cars, no question asked," Lacson warned. He, however,
said that those who will defy his order will face summary dismissal
proceedings.
Afraid of the consequences, at least 15 vehicles were surrendered
in Central Luzon a day after Lacson issued the warning.
The rest of the vehicles were returned several days after.
Calinisan said at least eight were surrendered by the 3rd
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (3CIDG), six from the
TMG3, seven from the regional intelligence unit, two from the
provincial police units.
He said that most of the "surrendered" stolen but recovered
vehicles were of late models and slightly used cars.
Other vehicles, Calinisan said, were already in the state of
deterioration due to prolonged exposure to elements in the impounding
areas of the different police units in the region.
Police sources said many of the recovered stolen vehicles now
found in the impounding areas of some police units in Central Luzon
were found to be unserviceable as they were already cannibalized.
Corpuz said the campaign against policemen using carnapped cars
is just a start of the PNP crackdown on erring PNP members.
"We're serious this time," Corpuz said. "Any policeman caught
still using stolen vehicles will be dealt with accordingly."
The TMG regional chief called on the carnapping victims to go
directly to the central impounding area at Camp Crame to identify
their stolen vehicles. (PNA)
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PNA 11221642