Seven unregistered luxury vehicles seized

Authorities seized seven allegedly unregistered luxury cars at a gas station along the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Marilao, Bulacan, on Monday night after a citizen tip-off.

Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) spokesperson Lt. Nadame Malang said that a concerned citizen reported the seven luxury vehicles idling at the gas station for nearly two hours.

“It was unusual for seven luxury cars to be in one area at a gas station for almost two hours if they were just getting gas, which would have only taken around 30 minutes,” Malang said.

HPG operatives responded to the tip and found that the vehicles were using improvised license plates — an initial violation.

Further investigation revealed the luxury cars were unregistered, Malang said.

The drivers, identified only as “businessmen” and “private individuals,” were apprehended.

“Their profile is that of businessmen and private individuals, so the HPG is looking into whether it went through the proper process,” Malang said, referring to the vehicles’ registration.

The seized cars have been turned over to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) central office in Quezon City.

On the other hand, the drivers face charges for violating Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, for allegedly operating an unregistered vehicle.

Malang added that the HPG is investigating a possible link between the seized vehicles and the collection of luxury cars owned by private contractor couple Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, who are being investigated in a separate matter.

“We have validated 12 of the Discaya’s cars and our Bureau of Customs and other agencies are still looking for the others,” Malang said. “That is the reason we suspect that those were the same luxury cars we got.”