QCPD identifies plate number of car in ‘gas-and-run’ incident

The police have already identified the plate number of the multipurpose vehicle that fled after not paying P5,000 for a full tank of fuel at a gasoline station in Quezon City. 

Police Major Jennifer Ganaban, Quezon City Police District public information office chief, said that authorities were able to get a clear look of the plate number after it made two stops after the incident, wherein a piece of cloth covering the plate number came off. 

“Nakakita po tayo ng isang kuha ng CCTV na klaro po yung kanyang plate number. For the past days po kasi, talagang medyo malabo. Kung mapapansin din po natin, talagang sinadya niyang takpan ng puting tela yng kanyang plate number sa likod, knowing po siguro na may mga CCTV siyang madadaanan,” she told Super Radyo dzBB in an interview. “However, nakadalawang stop siya kung saan very clear yung pagkakakuha ng plate number.” 

(We found a CCTV clip where the plate number is clear. For the past few days, it was actually quite blurry. If we notice, he really intentionally covered his rear plate number with a white cloth, likely knowing he would pass by several CCTVs. However, he made two stops where the plate number was captured very clearly.) 

The police believe the suspect intended not to pay for the fuel as CCTV caught him covering his plate number before he arrived at the gas station. 

“Kung mapapansin natin sa mga naunang nag-circulate na videos, doon sa gasoline station, tinakpan talaga. Kasi prior na makarating siya ng gasoline station, may mga kuha tayo na bumaba siya at mayroon siyang inayos sa likod ng sasakyan niya,” said Ganaban. 

(If we look at the videos that circulated earlier, it was really covered at the gasoline station. Because prior to arriving at the station, we have footage showing him getting out [of the vehicle] and fixing something at the back of his car. 

The QCPD said authorities were able to locate the registered owner of the vehicle. But the latter claimed he already sold the vehicle involved to somebody else. 

“Umamin din po na mayroon pala siyang dating sasakyan, kaya lang parang pinasalo niya. Uso po kasi yung bibili ng sasakyan, sayo nakapangalan, then kapag hindi ka na magbayad, pwede mo na siya ibenta o ipasalo. So ayun po ang ginagawa ng ating operatiba, vina-validate kung totoo ba na ganun ang nangyari,” said Ganaban. 

(He admitted that he used to own the vehicle, but it seems he had someone else take over. It’s common practice to buy a vehicle under your name, and then if you can no longer pay for it, you can sell it or have someone else take over the mortgage. So, that is what our operatives are doing now, validating if that is truly what happened.) 

The QCPD official also said that the suspect could face charges for estafa. —RF, GMA integrated News