TMG chief, stockbroker face counter-charges

A stockbroker and several police traffic officers were charged for attempted kidnapping, robbery and coercion last Saturday for their alleged participation in the alleged foiled abduction of a scion of a wealthy trader based in Pasig City last Friday.

Charged were Robert Coyiuto, Chief Superintendent Renato Paredes, Traffic Management Group (TMG) director and his men who flagged down George Leonard Umale while he was driving a Porsche Boxster sports car along Pioneer street and Shaw Boulevard in Pasig City.

According to Umale’s lawyers, the foiled abduction was the latest in a series of incidents involving a brewing dispute between two businessmen over Umale’s refusal to remain silent on the multi-million peso tax evasion schemes for luxury cars allegedly perpetrated by Coyiuto’s PGA Cars, Incorporated.

The dispute started in September when Umale’s lawyers, E. Hans Santos and Ronaldo Caringan of the Rivera Santos and Maranan Law Offices, charged Miguel Coyiuto, Anton Sy, Jonas Silva and Lito Jose all of PGA Cars, Inc. with estafa for selling him two "hot cars."

Despite Umale’s payment of almost P9 million to PGA, tax payment on the cars, a Porsche 998 Twin Turbo and a Porsche Boxster were deficient by several million pesos, his lawyers said.

Worse, according to Umale’s lawyers, Coyiuto allegedly registered the vehicles in the names of his employees Sy and Silva.

The case is now pending in the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office.

Friday last week, plainclothes TMG operatives reportedly taking orders from Coyiuto, reportedly tried to abduct George Leonard Umale by tailing and chasing the Porsche Boxster he was driving from Makati to Mandaluyong City.

The car chase ended when Coyiuto, his security escorts and the TMG operatives allegedly blocked and cornered Umale at Shaw Boulevard corner Pioneer street with the alleged intention of kidnapping him to force his trader-father to keep his mouth shut on the alleged tax anomalies reportedly being perpetrated by PGA Cars, Inc.

Coyiuto could not be reached for comment, but Paredes stressed that the operation was a legitimate anti-car theft operation.

Paredes also claimed that his office is filing criminal charges against the Umales and their counsels for interfering in police operations.

Aside from the criminal charges, Paredes said evidence is being prepared for the filing of disbarment proceedings against the Umales’ lawyers since they interfered with George Umale’s apprehension and made a scene which led to the escape of the suspect.

Also, Anton Sy, the supposed real owner of the Porsche Boxster car, informed Paredes that he is also filing estafa and perjury charges against the Umale patriarch for issuing bouncing checks and not settling his legal obligations.

But in a press statement, the Umale patriarch, maintained that he is the aggrieved party in the brewing legal battle.

He also maintained they never interfered in the TMG operation but said they only rushed to his son’s assistance, together with officers from the Eastern Police District.

According to him, upon their arrival, the police anti-car theft operatives informed them that they had apprehended the young Umale for a minor traffic violation.

The TMG then forcibly seized the Porsche, without reportedly issuing any traffic citation ticket or presenting any lawful court order.