AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) on Thursday arrested a police official found in possession of a stolen vehicle, PNP-IMEG director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said.
In a report to PNP chief General Archie Francisco F. Gamboa, Lee identified the accused as Lieutenant Colonel Renato Castillo, currently assigned at the Regional Personnel Holding Administrative Section of the National Capital Region Police Office.
Castillo said he merely bought the vehicle from another person in “good faith, ” adding he has no knowledge it was stolen.
The 46-year-old police official was intercepted by operatives from the PNP-IMEG, the PNP Highway Patrol Group Special Operations Division/Task Force Limbas, the NCRPO Regional Intelligence Division and the PNP Intelligence Group Counter-Intelligence Division while driving a red Toyota Innovawith plate no. AAM-3350 in Barangay Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
The vehicle turned out to be in the PNP-HPG list of stolen vehicles.
It was reportedly stolen while parked unattended on Magnolia Street, Roxas District in Quezon City on August 5, 2014.
The owner, Jonnel Sangalang, filed an official complaint to the PNP-HPG regarding the theft of his motor vehicle which has the original plate no. WKO-650 when it was stolen.
A record check with the Land Transportation Office showed that the plate no. AAM-3350 was originally intended for an Isuzu DMax pick-up.
The official, who is now being held at the PNP-IMEG headquarters, was stripped of his PNP-issued Pietro Berretta pistol with a magazine containing 11 live ammunition.
He will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Law, violation or RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards.
