By Kit Bagaipo
The four operatives of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) being charged for "serious breach of procedure" in apprehending alleged stolen cars here are blaming the Bohol PNP Crime Laboratory for its failure to detect tampering of engine and chassis numbers of vehicles.
C/Insp. Joseph Orsos, head of the TMG legal division, said in an interview with the Chronicle that based on results of their investigation, all of the eight vehicles seized during recovery operations here are registered to its original owners in Manila.
According to their documents, Orsos claimed, all the 8 vehicles underwent macro-etching at the Bohol PNP Crime Lab and were issued certification, prior to having been cleared and registered by the TMG and later the Land Transportation Office.
Orsos said the Crime Lab at Camp Dagohoy "failed to conduct an extensive examination of the vehicles" which the four TMG operatives eventually recovered here.
Although he considers it "a technical glitch", Orsos said the Bohol PNP Crime Lab is still "liable for [their] negligence."
Macro etching is done to determine the true identity of the vehicle by making a carbon copy of the car's secret codes (engine and chassis number). Secret codes of most stolen cars are altered, according to Ursos.
"The TMG only possess a list of stolen vehicles," he said. "It is the Crime Lab which can determine if the vehicles secret codes are tampered or not. If the Crime Lab releases an erroneous report on the results of its laboratory inspection, then the TMG will also issue an erroneous certification of the vehicle."
source:
The Bohol Chronicle, A A Bi-Weekly NewspaperLinkback:
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