Man faces carnapping raps; woman indicted for stealing bag

CEBU, Philippines - A man is facing charges before the court for allegedly stealing the vehicle of boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud’s wife.

 Prosecutor Russell Busico held Peter Lim alias Peter Lim Santos of 1P Cluster 3 Montecido Apartment, Newport City in Pasay City for trial for violation of Republic Act 6539, otherwise known as carnapping.

Busico set a P200,000 bail for the temporary liberty of the accused.

Through the National Bureau of Investigation-7, Salud’s wife, Elvira, a resident of 15B Balagtas Street, Cebu City, filed carnapping and falsification complaints before the Prosecutor’s Office against Lim, Januario Adlawan, Stephen Tan and Rachel Jumao-as.

Elvira alleged Lim and Tan went to her residence on October 3, 2014 and showed interest in buying her Mitsubishi Strada pickup.

Elvira allowed Lim and Tan to test-drive the vehicle and verify the papers, which were placed inside its glove compartment.

However, she claimed Lim and Tan failed to return her vehicle. Thus, she sought the assistance of the NBI.

Investigation by the NBI revealed that Lim pawned the vehicle at Ayala Motor Sales, Juan Luna Street, Mabolo, Cebu City.

Jaime Ang, owner of Ayala Motor Sales, said on October 3, 2014 at around 6 p.m. he received a call from Adlawan informing him that he has a client who would like to pawn a grey Mitsubishi Strada pickup with plate number NPO 553.

At around 8 p.m., Adlawan arrived together with Santos, Tan, and Jumao-as bringing with them the vehicle. Ang said he paid P400,000 to Lim.

With the foregoing facts, Busico held Lim for trial for carnapping but dismissed the complaint for falsification.

Busico likewise cleared Adlawan, Tan and Jumao-as for lack of evidence.

‘Bag thief’

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a woman for allegedly stealing the bag of a revenue officer.

Prosecutor II Aurora Peñaflor held Mylene Villomo, a resident of Pooc, Talisay City, Cebu, for theft.

Peñaflor recommended P40,000 bail for accused temporary liberty.

Revenue Officer Isabel Sunit, 59, of the Bureau of Internal Revenue- Cebu City South alleged while she was busy assisting other taxpayers in filing their Income Tax Return (ITR) and doing some paper works on March 13, 2014, she did not notice that her bag placed beneath her table was lost.

It was about 4:10 p.m. of the same day when she discovered that her bag was lost. She said her bag contains valuables amounting to P525,500.

Sunit reported the incident before the Theft and Robbery Section of Cebu City Police Office. The police review the close-circuit television footage and found out that the bag was taken by the accused.

Peñaflor summoned accused to file her counter-affidavit but failed. — (FREEMAN)