Joselito Malig

Businessmen file complaints vs Cebu cops over alleged car scam

Article (news)

Jeff Caparas

ABS-CBN News

A group of businessmen from Cebu have filed administrative complaints before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) against several police officers over an alleged scheme involving the sale of discounted brand-new vehicles that were either never delivered or turned out to be mortgaged to banks.<div> </div>The complainants alleged that the police officers presented themselves as having special dealership allocations that allowed them to acquire brand-new vehicles from authorized dealers at significantly discounted prices. They said they paid in full for the units but either failed to receive the vehicles or later discovered that the units delivered were already encumbered or registered under other owners.NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan said he was surprised by the allegations and described the supposed scheme as something he had never encountered before.Calinisan said the commission will also coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to verify the documents and status of the vehicles involved.According to the lawyer Julius Gregory Delgado, counsel for the complainants, the victims were convinced to purchase vehicles after being told the police officers had exclusive access to discounted units from dealerships.&quot;Ang akin pong mga kliyente, mga complainants ay sila po binentahan po ng mga sasakyan, pinepresenta po nila na sila po ay may alokasyon sa mga dealership at nakakakuha ng mga mura o discounted na sasakyan. Ngunit sa kalaunan kahit po sila ay nakabayad na sa mga naturang sasakayan ay hindi po dumating ang sasakyan at kung may dumating man ito ay nakasangla sa bangko at mayari pong iba,&quot; Delgado said.One of the complainants, Cebu businessman Ronald Yap Elpa, said he initially trusted the transaction because of his relationship with some of the people involved.&quot;Nakabili kami ng mga sasakyan, may mga sasakyan na dumating, may mga sasakyan na hindi nakarating,&quot; Elpa said.He said some of the vehicles they ordered included a Mitsubishi Montero, Nissan Terra pickup truck. and a luxury Nissan Patrol.&quot;Hanggang ngayon po kasi hindi maibigay po sa amin yung mga dokumento, ito po kaya nagrereklamo kami. May isang sasakyan hindi nakarating na full paid na rin po,&quot; he added.Elpa said they later discovered that some of the units that had been delivered were mortgaged to banks.&quot;We later found out naka-encumbered po ang mga sasakyan,&quot; he said.He also claimed that other buyers experienced similar problems.&quot;Meron pa kasing ibang kakilala na nakabili... they also encountered, hindi nakaabot dito,&quot; he said.Another complainant, Jude Quirante Chan, said he was persuaded to buy vehicles after one unit was successfully delivered.&quot;Kinuha ko po isang Hilux na sasakyan, nakarating naman pero encumbered yung unit, utang din sa bangko, ibang tao ang pangalan,&quot; Chan said.He said he later purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser but never received the vehicle despite paying in full.&quot;Yung pangalawa po isang LC. Na-engganyo ako kasi nakarating yung isa, kaya kumuha din ako ng isang LC, Land Cruiser. Yan ang hindi nakarating. Hanggang fully paid po ako, hindi ko nakuha yung unit,&quot; he said.Police Colonel Marlon Santos, speaking on behalf of the Philippine National Police, said the organization would cooperate with the investigation.&quot;We acknowledge the complaint. Rest assured the Philippine National Police will provide full support to the investigation,&quot; Santos said.He also denied that police officers are given special dealership allocations.&quot;Bilang pulis po wala kaming personality sa reservation sa casa, so siguro po ang makakasagot yung dalawang pulis,&quot; Santos said.During the press conference, complainants alleged they were offered vehicles at prices significantly lower than prevailing market rates. Among those cited was a Nissan Patrol allegedly offered for P3.8 million instead of about P4.2 million.Lawyer Delgado said the complainants are considering filing criminal complaints, including syndicated estafa, aside from the administrative cases now pending before NAPOLCOM.For his part, Calinisan said the commission will determine whether the respondent police officers violated police regulations and ethical standards.If evidence warrants, the officers could face administrative charges such as grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, which carry penalties ranging from suspension to dismissal from the service.NAPOLCOM said it is now verifying the current assignments of the respondent police officers as part of its ongoing investigation.The complainants said the police officers they accused were assigned in Cebu when the alleged transactions took place.

A group of businessmen from Cebu have filed administrative complaints before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) against several police officers over an alleged scheme involving the sale of discounted brand-new vehicles that were either never delivered or turned out to be mortgaged to banks.

A group of businessmen from Cebu have filed administrative complaints before the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) against several police officers over an alleged scheme involving the sale of discounted brand-new vehicles that were either never delivered or turned out to be mortgaged to banks.