Maserati found; owner in hiding

MANILA, Philippines - The Maserati sports car of a man who allegedly roughed up a traffic enforcer last Thursday has been found parked in a condominium building in Quezon City, but the driver has gone into hiding.

Joseph Russel Ingco, believed to be the driver of the blue Maserati Ghibli, released a statement yesterday, appealing for the public’s “patience and understanding” and promised that he would submit himself “to the proper legal process.”

Ingco reportedly has 42 cars and motorcycles registered in his name, but not the Maserati.

In a statement posted by GMA-7’s Rowena Salvacion on Twitter, Ingco said his wife and children were “severely suffering” from “cruel statements” against him over the “truly sad” incident in Quezon City.

Jason Salvador, spokesman for the Land Transportation Office (LTO), said they may revoke Ingco’s driver’s license.

Salvador said they would summon Ingco, a businessman, so he can respond to the complaint of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic enforcer Jorbe Adriatico.

According to Salvador, the crime Ingco is accused of was done while driving, which could be a basis for the revocation of his license.

Quezon City Police District chief Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao said Adriatico suffered a broken nose after Ingco, who purportedly continued driving his blue Maserati Ghibli sports car and dragging the victim for several meters along Quezon Avenue, repeatedly punched him in the face.

Pagdilao said Adriatico had filed charges of serious physical injury, direct assault upon an agent of a person in authority, grave threats and robbery against Ingco before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

Adriatico reportedly lost his cell phone, with which he was taking a video of Ingco. The phone fell inside the car when he was punched.

The traffic enforcer said he would pursue the case against Ingco to counter the increasing cases of motorists who belittle traffic enforcers.

Ingco was allegedly irked after MMDA traffic enforcers took videos and photos of his vehicle as he committed an illegal left turn at the corner of Quezon and Araneta avenues.

Salvador noted that Ingco’s case was different from that of Robert Carabuena, who was caught on camera assaulting another MMDA traffic enforcer after he got out of his car. Carabuena underwent the same proceedings but the LTO did not revoke his license since the violation was not committed while driving.

Salvador noted that since Ingco was allegedly assaulting another person while driving, his act also endangered the lives of other people on the road at that time.

Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said police found Ingco’s Maserati at the parking lot of the condominium where the businessman lives.

Ingco’s lawyer Ian Ludovice met Pagdilao yesterday morning at the Quezon City Police District headquarters at Camp Karingal and gave assurance his client would face the complaints.

Pagdilao said the lawyer assured investgators that Ingco is still in Metro Manila.

Salvador said there is no record in the LTO that a Maserati car is registered under Ingco’s name.

He said this could mean either the sports car has not been registered yet or the car is registered under a different name.

Salvador said 42 vehicles and motorcycles are registered under Ingco’s name. These include high-end cars including a Land Rover, Camry and Grandia as well as delivery trucks.

Pagdilao has said Ingco’s sports car is one of only two blue Maserati sports cars in the country, that is why it was easy to trace.

Pagdilao said they managed to trace a Maserati owner but his vehicle was not the one involved in the incident. The owner was presented to Adriatico, who said the former was not the one who punched him.

He said investigators were able to secure a license photo of the second owner, which was shown to Adriatico last Thursday afternoon.

Adriatico then tagged Ingco as the one who allegedly punched him.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency’s lawyers would assist Adriatico in his legal case Ingco.

He said the Quezon City police is preparing criminal charges against the suspect.

It woudl be up to Adriatico to pursue civil cases against the motorist.

Tolentino also said they are planning to reassign Adriatico to another area while the case is in progress.

He said Adriatico is suffering from trauma after the incident.

Tolentino urged Ingco to surrender and face the charges that will be filed against him.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has not yet acted on the case of Ingco.

De Lima said the MMDA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have not filed charges in court.

Ingco’s name has not yet been included in the BI’s lookout bulletin as he is not yet considered as a person of interest by the DOJ.

“As far as I know, the PNP is looking and would file case against him, certainly this is not a good incident that (involves) a direct assault and physical injuries. The Prosecutor’s Office will wait for the PNP and MMDA,” De Lima added.

Ingco also owns several firearms, including guns with expired licenses, a source told The STAR.

The source said records of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office showed that Ingco owns short and long firearms. – Reiner Padua, Perseus Echeminada, Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Janvic Mateo