Fiscal orders release of Talisay car shop owner in ‘hot cars’ case

The City Prosecutor’s Office of Talisay City has ordered the release of the owner of the car repair shop where suspected smuggled vehicles were undergoing conversion from from right-hand to left-hand drive.

And Garry Lapinid, owner of the GML car shop along  Rabaya Street, barangay San Roque, Talisay City said he will stop converting imported vehicles.

“Moundang kay problema man nuon ni,” Lapinid said after he was released from police detention.

(I will stop because this is causing me problem.)

Talisay City Prosecutor Marshal Rubia had asked the Criminal Investigation and Detection 7 (CIDG 7) to produce evidence linking Lapinid to the illegal importation of the cars.

Last Friday, the CIDG-7 raided Lapinid’s shop and  seized 17 vehicles on the strength of search warrant issued by Regional Trial Court branch 19 Judge Wilfredo Navarro.

According to Chief Insp. Errol Garchitorena, head of CIDG-7, they are coordinating with the Bureau of Customs to trace the importer of the cars which has an estimated value of P3 million.

Rubia will however proceed with the preliminary investigation of the case against Lapinid. /Correspondent Chito O. Aragon