‘Bato’: I was once sold a stolen car; Clemency for unwitting buyers

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa admitted on Monday that he was once duped into buying a carjacked vehicle from a police official, and stressed that unwitting buyers of stolen vehicles, who violated the law, are likewise victims.

“Ako, I must admit, nakabili din ako ng carnap vehicle noong bata pa ako sa serbisyo. Merong matandang colonel…Hindi ko na alam na carnap [‘yung sasakyan], binentahan ako (When I was new to the service, a police colonel sold me a stolen vehicle, I had no idea it was stolen),” Dela Rosa disclosed Monday over an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

“Alam ko ‘yung nakakabili ng mga, ‘yung mga biktima na nakabili ng mga carnap vehicle. Dapat ‘wag ka masyadong harsh on them dahil kahit na nag-violate sila sa batas by being the buyer of that carnapped vehicle, biktima sila (Authorities shouldn’t be too harsh on unwitting buyers of stolen vehicles.  They may have violated the law by being the buyer, but they are victims, too),” Dela Rosa added.

“Dahil honestly hindi nila alam na carnap yan. Ngayon nahuli mo na carnap pala yung sasakyan dapat don’t be so harsh on them.”

Dela Rosa said he was asked to turn over the stolen vehicle he unwittingly purchased to the Highway Patrol Group.

“Sinabihan ako ng Highway Patrol: Sir carnap yung sasakyan na nabili mo. Carnap yan kailangan iturn over mo sa’min.   Sige, i-turn over ko,” he recalled.  /gsg