Public warned on buying "hot cars"

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle


Stolen vehicles that are smuggled into the province continue to sell, victimizing unsuspecting car buyers.

The Traffic Management Group-Bohol Highway Patrol Team based at Camp Dagohoy, this city, is again warning the public of buying second hand cars to check first the records of the vehicle they want to buy to ensure that these are not marked as stolen based on records.

TMG S/Insp. Eduardo Mara told the Chronicle that buyers of second hand cars must be cautious so they would not fall victims of syndicates selling carnapped vehicles.

With the growing tour business in Bohol, Mara said smuggled vans have found their way to Bohol as many tourism operators are investing into the van-for-hire business.

Despite ongoing operations against stolen vehicles, the TMG-Bohol continue to apprehend and seize vehicles that are flagged stolen.

"There are still a lot of 'hot cars' in Bohol, this is because buyers here in the province are more vulnerable compared to the ones in the big cities who are more meticulous in buying vehicles," Mara disclosed.

Last Friday, the highway patrol group seized during an operation in Loboc town a white Nissan Urvan, owned by a certain Rodrigo Balaba, which had been reported stolen on July 14, 2005 in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Mara said, Balaba purchased the van through a financing agency in Cebu City that acted as agent to a certain Dulce Corazon Diasanta, with residence address at Camia Street, Pembo, Makati City.

Although the Nissan van was registered to Diasanta, the TMG believes the name is fictitious as the vehicle was registered at the Land Transportation Office in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur.

METICULOUS CHECKS

Mara explained that car buyers and even second-hand car display centers must have a vehicle macro-etched first to determine if it is not flagged as stolen in the TMG list of hot cars.

"The buyer should take extra caution and determine the records of the vehicle they want to buy," he said.

Car buyers must first go to the TMG office before buying a unit and ensure that the vehicle is not carnapped, otherwise, the buyer may also be held liable, if the unit is apprehended, for buying a stolen vehicle, Mara said.

Tampered chassis or engine numbers can be checked by macro-etching, according to Mara.

Documents of vehicles can be checked at the LTO as smuggled or stolen cars will have registration problems.

Agents of the TMG regional office confiscated at least eight alleged stolen vehicles during an operation here in 2007. The seized cars are now impounded at the TMG regional office in Cebu City.

"A particular vehicle sold by a dealer must bear registration papers from the nearest LTO office," Mara explained.

Mara added that LTO Visayas and Mindanao field offices have become the registration haven for carnappers and smugglers.

The Tagbilaran City LTO office is listed among the main sources of license plates and registration papers for stolen vehicles.

Shipment of hot cars to the provinces have become easier ever since the Anti-Carnapping Clearance have been abolished as a requirement to transport vehicles, Mara concluded.