CARNAPPED motorcycles in Zamboanga City.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Highway Patrol Group has recovered 43 brand new motorcycles used in a large-scale technical carnapping operation after raiding a warehouse here on Friday, Jan. 16.
The 43 motorcycles are locally referred to as “Talon” – vehicles acquired through loan financing by unscrupulous individuals and immediately brought to far flung areas without the consent of the lienholder and subsequently sold to third parties.
The illegal scheme prevents financing companies from getting back the vehicles used as collateral when borrowers default or abandon their loan payments.
Highway Patrol Group Unit 9 Team Leader of the Motor Vehicle Clearance Center Police Lt. Wilfrido Ator confirmed that the motorcycles were obtained through financing companies from Luzon and are part of what they consider as a technical carnapping scheme.
The HPG is currently studying the engine and chassis numbers of the vehicles to identify the original registered owners and return them to financing companies.
The warehouse owner and other suspects were not identified, but authorities say they are currently being investigated for the filing of charges under Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act.
The HPG warns the public against purchasing vehicles obtained through the illegal scheme.