2 car theft suspects nabbed with stolen vehicle

MANILA, Philippines – Two suspected members of a car theft gang were arrested Thursday afternoon for trying to sell a stolen vehicle in Valenzuela City.

Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio, Valenzuela City police chief, identified the suspects as Richie Galman, 35, a resident of Barangay Isla, and Andrew Ursua, 26, a resident of Barangay Arkong Bato, both in Valenzuela City.

Police recovered from the suspects a blue Mitsubishi Adventure (XKY-401) owned by Olivia de Dios, a resident of Novaliches, Quezon City.

“Verification made with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed that the vehicle offered for sale by the suspects is registered to a certain Olivia de Dios,” Senior Police Officer 4 Jesus Sagisi, Valenzuela City police investigator, told The STAR.

Sagisi said the suspects altered the chassis and engine numbers of the recovered vehicle but police were still able to make out the original numbers.

Investigation showed that at around 4 p.m. Thursday, a “concerned resident” informed the Valenzuela City police about the two men putting up a Mitsubishi Adventure for sale along Ibayo street in Barangay Malinta.

When police asked them to present documents for the vehicle, the suspects failed to produce any.

“When someone is interested in buying the vehicle, the suspects would give them complete documents but you can never register the car to the LTO because the papers are fake and the corresponding engine and chassis numbers would be determined as altered,” Sagisi said.

Sagisi said the suspects could be members of a car theft group who steal vehicles from the provinces and sell them in Manila at bargain prices using forged documents. – Pete Laude