SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Six vehicles allegedly involved in a “rent/sangla car modus operandi” that were recovered inside an import-export yard here were formally turned over on Friday by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to the custody of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
SBMA Deputy Administrator for Legal Affairs Randy Escolango handed over the receipt documents to NBI-Olongapo Special Investigator Norman Revita, in the presence of P03 Allan Ednave of Olongapo City Police, SP02 Angelito Gapay of PNP Highway Patrol Group, Maj. Vicente Tolentino of SBMA Law Enforcement Department, and Ichiban manager Bienvenido Perez.
Owners of the vehicles were also present during the turnover.
Escolango also presented to Ichiban a communication letter asking the locator to explain why its business permits should not be revoked after the alleged stolen or missing vehicles were found inside their building.
The vehicles consisting of a white Toyota Fortuner (plate number: AOA 9361), white Toyota Hi-Ace (PN: PZI 851), black Toyota HiAce (PN: AKA 8187), silver Toyota Hi-Ace (PN: UEO 559), black Mitsubishi Montero (conduction sticker: NI 2417) and maroon Mitsubishi Montero (CS: NE 3182) were discovered inside Ichiban building.
Ichiban Import-Export Corporation, is an import and recondition facility of used trucks and construction machineries from Japan for sale to local market or for re-export to the international market, located in Argonaut Highway Lower Mau Camp inside the Freeport.
In a report by SBMA police, owners Roy Galang, Jerry Galang, Joseph Dela Cruz and Mac Lawrence Pilamor claimed that their vehicles were rented by certain Earl Meredith and Roldan Bernaldo, sometime in April 2016 and December 2016.
However, the vehicles were never returned since until they received information that the vehicles were being kept inside Ichiban building.
On March 8, police personnel from SBMA, Olongapo City and HPG (R3), and victim-owners Roy Galang, Jerry Galang, Charina Ticsay and Angil Dave Zafra trooped to Ichiban and found their respective missing vehicles, a Toyota Commuter Van (PZI 851), Toyota Grandia (AKA 8187), Toyota Grandia (UEO 559) and Toyota Fortuner (AOA 9361).
Later on the same day, one Leslie De Vera, appeared at SBMA Law Enforcement office to claim ownership of two Mitsubishi Montero (NE 3182 and NI 2417) which were also found at Ichiban.
Meanwhile, SBMA administrator and CEO Wilma Eisma said the recovery of the vehicles was the result of days of surveillance and due diligence by SBMA law enforcers, with the NBI and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“The SBMA, NBI and PNP had been working together to crack the case and will continue to do so until everyone involved has been brought to justice,” Eisma said.
She said the SBMA shall actively monitor the case and will assist in any way to ensure that proper charges will be filed against the suspect or suspects.
“The SBMA will be tough on anyone who will be caught violating law and order inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” she noted. (PNA)