Stolen van found in cop’s warehouse

A van that was reported stolen from a businessman based in Santa Maria, Bulacan province, was discovered “cannibalized” or dismantled Sunday night in a Taguig City warehouse reportedly owned by a policeman.

A report reaching the Santa Maria police said parts of the Isuzu closed van, with conduction sticker 038604, were found by the local police at WCR Tire Supply on Manuel L. Quezon Street, Lower Bicutan, past 10 p.m.

The vehicle’s owner, Melvin Cabucos Dahilan, 34, alerted authorities about the location based on the Isuzu’s global positioning system. Dahilan said the vehicle was stolen around 7:30 p.m. that night from Ramos Compound, Barangay Santa Clara, where it was last parked.

According to the report, the warehouse is owned and managed by PO3 Wilson Castro Regala, who is assigned to Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan.

“When the (Santa Maria) police got to the warehouse, there was no one there,” said Senior Supt. Arthur Felix Asis, the Taguig police chief.

As of press time Monday, Regala remained at large as the Inquirer awaited more details about him from the National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson, Chief Insp. Kimberly Molitas.

A news report in May 2013 showed that a PO3 Wilson C. Regala, assigned at that time to the NCRPO, was detained at the Makati City police headquarters on allegations of car theft.