Varela, in a phone interview, told The STAR that Malonzo’s red Nissan Safari 4WD car (’95 model), with license plate UDV 858, was parked in front of his house at 1 Cabiling Street in Urduja Village, Caloocan City between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. when it was stolen.
The vice mayor recounted that his daughter Michelle, 21, a veterinary medicine student, who went home at around 3 a.m. told him the car was still there when she arrived.
Varela said nobody noticed the car thieves in the vicinity, even Barangay 172’s watchmen, who were roving around the community at that time.
He said he believes the car would be used in committing more serious crimes like kidnapping and robbery.
Varela was using the car, which was lent to him by the mayor, as an extra service vehicle. His own car, which was parked beside it was spared though.
A flash alarm has been issued by the local police for the vehicle’s early recovery.