CIDG nabs shop owner for "RHD"

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested Friday night an auto shop owner for allegedly possessing a right-hand-drive sports car in his yard in Kinasang-an, Pardo.

Russ Jao, owner of Sanix Surplus, was the subject of a search warrant issued by Judge Ireneo Lee Gako Jr. But he argued that the green Toyota MR-S sports car was not a right-hand-drive vehicle and was not the subject of the search warrant because what the operatives were looking for were the Nissan Terrano, Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Surf, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Isuzu Big Horn Trooper he allegedly owned.

Jao claimed that a relative brought the car to his shop last December because it needed repair.

But the CIDG operatives said the car was indeed a right-hand-drive and part of its steering wheel was still attached to the right portion of the vehicle's front.

The Operatives questioned why the Land Transportation Office issued a registration certificate to the car on December 1, 2004 when it was a right-hand-drive vehicle.

The CIDG holds a copy of the registration documents bearing the name Iole Jao who Russ said was a relative. But the operatives admitted that the car was not among those mentioned in the search warrant. The raiding team was led by Senior Inspectors Richard Caballero and Patrick Freddie Vano.

Jao said he and his lawyer were not even present when the CIDG operatives searched the container van that had just arrived that afternoon. But the issue was nevertheless patched up because the operatives did not find anything illegal from the container van.

However, Jao blocked a forklift along the alley when operatives insisted on bringing with them the sports car.

Jao said he and his legal counsel, Antonio Bacalso III, are now contemplating filing a case against the CIDG operatives.

Meanwhile, Customs collector Lourdes Mangaoang said that the CIDG operation against Jao was illegal because it did not have an authority from her. She added the CIDG is not deputized by Customs to enforce the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

Mangaoang also said that even the regional trial court has no authority to issue a search warrant on cases pertaining to violations of the Tariff and Customs Code. Under the law, according to Mangaoang, it is the Customs collector who can issue a seizure and detention order. Mangaoang threatens to file a complaint against the CIDG before Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Angelo Reyes and Philippine National Police director general Arturo Lomibao.

Sought for comment, CIDG regional director Oscar Catalan only said, "my point is we are just doing our job. I will not fight everybody who would be condemning our enforcement of the law."

He said Jao was already released around 1 p.m. yesterday after he posted bail. - With a report from Fred P. Languido