Chop shop found in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines - A motorcycle shop owner in Tondo, Manila is facing criminal charges after police officers found that his shop and its contents are not covered by the proper permits and proofs of ownership.

Acting on a report by concerned citizens, Manila Police District (MPD) police officers “visited” James Tionloc’s Alcantara Motor Shop, located at the corner of Buendia and Dayao streets in Balut, Thursday.

Senior Inspector Rosalino Ibay said Tionloc failed to show a business permit to operate and did not have documents to prove that he bought eight motorcycles and spare parts in a legal manner.

An MPD source told The STAR that the shop “is being used to cannibalize stolen motorcycles, reassembled using different spare parts then sold to willing buyers.”

The same source said the operators of the shop “are probably in cahoots with (car theft) syndicates,” but Ibay refused to make a categorical declaration “in the absence of proper documentation.”

Tionloc and his two mechanics were brought to the MPD headquarters for questioning.

The source said one of the persons arrested identified himself as a barangay councilman but tried to escape when he was asked about the motorcycles’ papers.