Impounded vehicles rotting, up for auction

CEBU, Philippines —  About 200 vehicles stuck in the impounding garage of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) are now subject for bidding, disposal and transfer, according to Police Captain Michael Gingoyon.

Gingoyon, who heads the Provincial HPG, said it has been almost five years that varieties of vehicles were parked in the HPG impounding garage in Sudlon, Cebu City.

At present, the huge parking lot is now full with varieties of vehicles, some of them almost even reaching the roadside. Some of the vehicles were also seen rusty and about to rot.

Gingoyon said the maintenance of the vehicles impounded was beyond their control.

He clarified that there was no budget allocated to cover the entire parking lot to ensure the safety of the vehicles.

He added that these vehicles were confiscated not just by the PNP but as well as by the other sectors like the CIDG.

“Tunga man gud ni, naay mga CIDG, naay gikan sa region.  Ang uban kining naa sa amoa, naay mga records sa carnapped, naay mga unregistered, naay mga violations ba, naay uban mga tampered engines,” Gingoyon said.

However, he clarified that these vehicles would also be transferred to an impounding area in Bogo and Consolacion.

“Ang tan-aw nako ani kay ang regional office man ang nanguna ani sa proseso kung unsaon ni sya pag-dispose.  Bali, initially nag kuan nami didto sa Bogo ug Consolacion, regarding sa transfer ani niya,” he added.

The pending transfer is due to the processing of the bidding for some of the vehicles.

These vehicles subjected for biddings are those they cannot identify the right owners with no legal documents for grounds.

“More or less 25 vehicles na naka-impound sa highway patrol, for bidding na siya pero wala pa lang na sya ma-bid kay on process palang.  Siguro, didto sa Commission on Audit, naa puy mga ginabuhat or gina-process,” he said.

Gingoyon clarified that these vehicles could be retrieved only if legal documents will be presented to support the claim.

He added there were those who attempted to claim some vehicles but failed, because there were no authentic papers to bolster their claim.

The HPG still has to determine the exact date of the transfer and the bidding. — GAN (FREEMAN)