'Farmer' caught selling stolen car

MANILA, Philippines - A man who claimed to be farmer was arrested for selling a stolen car by Valenzuela policemen in an entrapment operation in Bulacan yesterday.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Eric Reyes said the entrapment was set up after Dante Baluyot, 38, sold a white Toyota Vios (PIA-855) for P350,000 to Luisito de Belen, 38, who later found out that the car’s plates belonged to another vehicle. The Vios’ original license number is UVC-783.

De Belen surrendered the vehicle to the police, who arrested Baluyot when he sold a blue Vios (ZSX-775) to undercover policemen. Senior Police Officer 1 Manuel Griarte said the engine and chassis number of the blue Vios belonged to another Vios with license number NID-344, which was reported stolen along C-5 Road in Valenzuela on Feb. 16.

At the police station, Baluyot told The STAR he was a sugar cane farmer moonlighting as a used car dealer. He said he buys used cars, improves them and sells them for a profit.