Couple sues CIDG over car's seizure

A couple has filed a civil suit before the court against the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police, demanding over P80,000 in damages from the police unit for seizing their Mitsubishi Pajero vehicle without valid reasons.

Cedric and Carmencita Ebo, residents of A. Laura Street in barangay Guadalupe, said they legally owned the car and accused the CIDG agents of abusing their power for claiming that it is a stolen vehicle.

They wanted the court to order the CIDG to return the vehicle to them, saying that they are even willing to post a bond if they are required to.

But CIDG senior agent Delfin Bontuyan claimed that they have enough evidence to prove that what the Ebo couple owns was a stolen car. The evidence includes the record of time and date, and the location of the place where it was stolen.

Bearing plate number GTC-807, the vehicle was driven by the couple's son Niño when apprehended by the CIDG agents at Escario Street on the night of October 12.

The couple said they bought the vehicle from a certain Marcelino Tagalog who issued a deed of sale to them sometime in 2004.

Before they paid Tagalog, the couple claimed that they first hold the vehicle checked with the PNP Traffic Management Office and the PNP Crime Laboratory Service to make sure that it was not stolen or used in any crime.

According to Ebo, the Traffic Management Office even certified that the vehicle is not on the list of wanted or stolen vehicles while the Crime Laboratory Service also issued certification that its serial numbers were not tampered with.

Prior to the car's seizure, the couple managed to have the registration of the vehicle transferred under their name and even have it mortgaged to a private bank. - Rene U. Borromeo/LPM