SC affirms mechanic's conviction for carnapping
The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the jail term imposed on a car mechanic who took the vehicle entrusted to him for repair by his client and thereafter attempted to sell it online.
Affirmed was the conviction for carnapping of Hubert Jacob Salvadora who was sentenced to a prison term ranging from 14 years and eight months as minimum to 17 years and four months as maximum.
The rulings of both the regional trial court (RTC) in 2018 and the Court of Appeals (CA) in 2020 which directed Salvadora to return to Mariden Ringor, the owner of the stolen vehicle identified as a 2007 model Mazda sedan with plate number ZIY-119, were upheld.
Also affirmed were the revocation of the bail bond posted by Salvadora and the order for his arrest and detention.
In dismissing Salvadora’s petition, the SC – in a resolution made public last March 24 – said that based on the allegations, issues, and arguments raised in the appeal, “the Court finds no cogent reason to deviate from the CA and the RTC's findings that petitioner (Salvadora) is guilty of carnapping.”
The SC said:
“Here, the prosecution witnesses identified the petitioner as the perpetrator of the crime and established how he took the vehicle without the owner's consent. On the other hand, the petitioner's defense that he was verbally authorized to sell the vehicle was unsubstantiated. The petitioner's denial is a negative defense that is self-serving and undeserving of weight in law absent clear and convincing proof.
“FOR THESE REASONS, the Petition for Review on Certiorari is DENIED. The Decision dated June 26, 2020 and the Resolution dated March 23, 2021 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR No. 42947 are AFFIRMED. SO ORDERED.”
Case records showed that Mariden Ringor sought the services of Salvadora on Jan. 12, 2015 for the repair of her car in Mahabang Parang, Angono, Rizal.
Mariden left her house to work and entrusted her son, Justin, to look after Salvadora while the car was being repaired.
When Justin return from inside the house, he found that both the mechanic and the car were gone. After about two hours, he called up his mother and reported the incident.
Mariden sent text messages to Salvadora who initially replied. Later, Salvadora stopped replying to the messages. She then went to Salvadora’s house and inquired from the wife the whereabouts of the mechanic.
When she failed to get a reply from either Salvadora or his wife, Mariden reported the incident to the barangay and later to the Angono police.
Later, Mariden discovered that her car was already being sold through online.
A carnapping charge was filed against Salvadora who was convicted by the RTC. On his appeal, the CA affirmed the trial court’s verdict.
Salvadora appealed the CA decision to the SC which denied his petition.