Sen. Grace Poe has pushed for an investigation into the unscrupulous practices of tow truck operators which she likened to car theft.
At the same time, she stressed the need to regulate the operations of towing firms to protect the interest of motorists, citing the numerous “horror stories” she had heard from victims.
In one case, a towing company hauled a vehicle away at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City without informing the driver, leaving him in a panic. Poe also said that the custodian of the towing company later failed to present proof that it was authorized to tow and impound vehicles.
In another incident which was caught on video and posted on a website, a sport utility vehicle was shown being towed improperly from Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
Another case which was also captured on video showed a car being towed in Quezon City with the towing company’s employees riding in the trunk.
Poe also cited other illegal practices such as the clamping and towing of a vehicle despite the presence of the driver or in spite of the driver’s willingness to pay the corresponding fine.
She said this was contrary to Metro Manila’s guidelines on towing and impounding operations which stated that illegally parked vehicles should not be towed if the driver was present. Instead, he should be issued a traffic violation receipt.
According to Poe, the act of clamping, lifting and subsequent towing and impounding of a vehicle against the owner’s will may constitute a violation of the anticar theft act.
Another questioned practice was the impounding of a vehicle in an area far away from where it was towed just to hike the towing rate. For every succeeding kilometer, an additional P200 is added to the flat rate of P1,500.
“Towing companies should exercise utmost care for the property of motor vehicle owners who pay hard-earned cash to purchase motor vehicles for personal or business use,” Poe said in her resolution.
She also noted that the public has been warned against the modus operandi of car theft syndicates who pretend to be towing companies.