Charges of carnapping and grave coercion are being readied against operators of towing companies in Quezon City with no accreditation from the QC government.
The move forms part of the city’s response to address complaints of abuse from erring towing companies which continue to operate despite the non-issuance of accreditation from the city.
To date, only the QC Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) had been authorized to carry the city’s towing operations. The DPOS maintains two trucks to undertake the towing of stalled and illegally parked vehicles on QC roads and thoroughfares.
The city’s campaign against erring towing companies has already led to the arrest of two personnel of Owleye hauling services for violating provisions of the QC towing guidelines.
The suspects, identified as Leny Perez and Ana Santos, were apprehended during an entrapment operation conducted jointly by operatives of the DPOS and the QC Police District based on a complaint filed by Jolly Vicente, a businessman, whose vehicle was flagged down by the suspects after encountering minor engine problem while traversing along Chestnut St. in Fairview on March 29.
In his complaint, Vicente claimed that one of the suspects forcibly boarded his vehicle while heading to the impounding area. The complainant was instructed to board the Owleye towing truck as suspects Perez and Santos demanded payment for the release of Vicente’s impounded vehicle.
It was at this juncture that Vicente sought the assistance of some patrolling DPOS personnel in the area, which led to the arrest of the two suspects. Six other personnel of the towing company still remain at large.
A television crew also provided assistance to the complainant.
“What we will be doing is stop the operation of all private towing companies in Quezon City to protect city residents from abusive towing crews. The primary objective of towing stalled and illegally parked vehicles is not to generate profit but penalize traffic law violators, clear the roads of obstructions or stalled motorists,” said Elmo San Diego, head of the city’s DPOS. -30- Precy/ Ramir/ Maureen Quinones, PAISO
