NBI seizes 3 ‘hot’ cars at Manila port

MANILA, Philippines—The National Bureau of Investigation seized three vehicles believed to have been stolen, on board a commercial vessel at the Port of Manila on Wednesday.

Vicente de Guzman, the NBI assistant regional director for the agency’s National Capital Region office, said the confiscated vehicles originated from Iligan City.

He said the vehicles, a Toyota hi-lux with plate number NXI-708, another with LGL- 413, and a Starex van with plate number NXQ-535, have been placed in the custody of the NBI.

He added that the NBI was not able to confiscate a fourth vehicle, a brand-new black Fortuner, also believed to have been stolen, because the supposed shipper, identified as Edjuddin Macabuat, drove away in the vehicle before it could be loaded onto the boat at the Iligan port.

De Guzman said the driver pretended to get something from inside the car and borrowed the key from port personnel.

The suspect left a brand-new motorcycle, which he was riding when he arrived at the Iligan Port.

De Guzman said that based on the shipping documents of the 2GO shipping company, a certain Edjuddin Macabuat was named as shipper, and the consignee who was supposed to claim the vehicles at the Manila Port was Jamael Edaros.

De Guzman added that they have started verifying the ownership and history of the vehicles.

“There are claimants to the (two) vehicles,” he added.

He said a report from an NBI office showed a town mayor of Madamba Lanao province presented documents on his ownership of the vehicles, including the Fortuner.

Mayor Dagoroan Mindalano said in a statement to the NBI that the vehicles were registered to the name of his wife, Jalilah.

Based on the NBI report, the vehicles were loaded onto a boat docked at the Iligan Port on June 3, Monday.  The boat was bound for Pier 2 of the Port of Manila.

De Guzman said the vehicles would be turned over to its rightful owner after validation of ownership.

He added they have not located the consignee of the vehicles.