What could be inside the “blue book” of car theft groups’ alleged protectors?
As the Senate proposes to subpoena the blue book, which was formerly in the possession of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, the Highway Patrol Group of the Philippine National Police revealed some of the details the book contained.
“As of now, we have not seen names of high-ranking police officials (in the blue book), only PNCOs (police noncommissioned officers),” HPG spokesperson Supt. Elizabeth Velasquez said on Wednesday.
PNCOs are policemen with ranks of Police Officer 1 up to Senior Police Officer 4.
“We are having an investigation right now and actually, meron tayong napakulong na pulis so tinitignan natin kung sangkot ba sila dito,” Velasquez said.
But this was contrary to the claims of Arsenio Evangelista, father of slain car dealer Venson Evangelista, who said in the Tuesday Senate hearing that the blue book contained names of police generals, provincial directors, employees of insurance companies and officials of Land Transportation Office.
These people were said to have protected car theft groups and its members.
“We already have the list and we are going after them one by one. We are going to places where they are possibly hiding so we could file charges against them,” Velasquez said.
The HPG is also proposing a revision of Republic Act No. 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972, denying a person charged with car theft of posting bail.
“Sana maipasa ‘to sa Congress dahil magiging deterrent ito sa mga carnappers na mag-isip-isip muna dahil talagang hindi na sila makakapag-out on bail,” the police official said.