Repainted stolen vehicle recovered in Baguio City

A utility vehicle that was allegedly stolen last month was found being repainted inside a house’s garage in Sitio Arupong in Loakan Proper in Baguio City.

According to Emil Sumangil’s exclusive report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) said the vehicle was allegedly stolen while it was parked in front of its owner’s house last month.

“Binasag ang windshield ng kanyang sasakyan. Binaklas nga po yung ignition cap at gumawa ng mga other way, nag-tap ng mga lines para at least mapagana ito pong sasakyan,” said PNP-HPG spokesperson Police Lt. Nadame Malang. 

(The windshield of their vehicle was smashed. The ignition cap was forcibly removed, and they resorted to other ways, tapping lines to get the car running.) 

The female complainant tagged along with the PNP-HPG during the operation, during which they found the vehicle now painted white – a far cry from its original brown color.

Although the engine and chassis numbers remain the same, the owner pointed out other markers to authorities to prove that it was her car. 

“...At during our macroetching napatunayan at nalaman din natin na ayun mismo yung sasakyan na hinahanap po,” said Malang.

(...And during our macroetching, we proved and also found out that it was indeed the vehicle we were looking for.)

The owner of the house where the vehicle was being repainted was arrested, but denied that the car was stolen.

“Ang nabanggit po ng ating suspect ay una, nakuha niya lang din daw po ito sa ibang tao. Pero hindi po naniniwala ang inyong PNP-HPG,” said Malang.

(At first our suspect claimed that he just got the vehicle from another person. But the PNP-HPG does not believe this.) 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the suspect for comment. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News