Lawmaker loses car to thieves

MANILA, Philippines - Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares’ car was stolen outside the party-list group’s headquarters in Quezon City before dawn yesterday.

The lawmaker’s blue-green 1997 Toyota Corolla (UUT-120) was reported missing at around 5 a.m. on K7th street in Barangay West Kamias, said Superintendent Virgilio Fabian, commander of the Quezon City Police District Station 9.

Colmenares’ driver, Riel Custodio, parked the car outside the headquarters at around 7 p.m. Wednesday. An office caretaker still saw the vehicle at around 1 a.m. yesterday when he checked on it.

Fellow Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño said Colmenares went to the United States for a speaking engagement and was scheduled to return last night.

He said Custodio parked the car outside the headquarters because another vehicle was occupying the garage.

Custodio told police he slept in the office and woke up at 5 a.m. to clean the car since he was supposed to pick up Colmenares at the airport last night. He said when he went outside, he saw the car was no longer there.

Senior Inspector Rodelio Marcelo, who heads the city police’s anti-car theft and carjacking section, said an alarm has been flashed for Colmenares’ vehicle. He also advised car owners to set up alarms or other anti-car theft devices such as steering locks.   – Reinir Padua