The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal charges against four persons who allegedly stole and sold the vehicle owned by the wife of boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud.
Peter Santos, Stephen Tan, Januario Adlawan, and Rachel Jumao-as were charged with carnapping and falsification before the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office.
A separate complaint for violating the Anti-Fencing Law of 1979 was filed against Jaime Ang for buying the stolen vehicle.
Elvira Salud earlier sought the assistance of the NBI after Santos and Tan allegedly didn’t return her Mitsubishi Strada with plate number NPO-553.
According to Salud, she bought the vehicle from Abelardo Malimban of Binangonan in Rizal for P700,000 last September 10, 2014.
After about three weeks, Santos and Tan allegedly manifested interest in buying the vehicle.
“Since the complainant knew Peter Lim and Stephen Tan, she trusted them and allowed them to test drive the vehicle,” said NBI Head Agent Rennan Augustus Oliva.
However, the respondents allegedly did not return Salud’s Mitsubishi Strada.
Investigation revealed that the vehicle was pawned to Ayala Motor Sales located in barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
Ang, the owner of the car display center, was informed that someone will pawn the vehicle.
Last Oct. 3, Santos and Tan, accompanied by Adlawan and Jumao-as, brought the vehicle to Ang who purchased the vehicle for P400,000.
Santos allegedly showed Ang the original Certificate of Registration, Official Receipt, photocopy of the Release of Mortgage, and a Deed of Sale allegedly signed by Abelardo Malimban, the original owner of the vehicle.
However, Malimban executed a sworn statement before the NBI and disowned the signature in the Deed of Sale.
Malimban also testified under oath that the only Deed of Absolute Sale he signed was the one he executed to Salud.
The charges filed against the respondents will undergo a preliminary investigation where the respondents will be given the opportunity to submit their counter-affidavits and refute the allegations.