‘Hot’ Hummer roams Metro streets

[lightning099]

‘Hot’ Hummer roams Metro streets
Philstar.com

Who is the owner of a brand new black Hummer-2 (H2) vehicle roaming the streets of Metro Manila without being stopped by police and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic aides?

What is mysterious about this vehicle, which carries “8” car plates reserved for members of Congress, is that its plates do not have the usual marking of the province that the member of Congress is supposed to represent. The plates may be fake and the vehicle could be a “hot” car.

The ownership of this vehicle could not be traced to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) because, instead of an LTO-issued car plate, it has a 2007 California car plate 7P78127 on the rear. At the back, it has a small pickup-style bed.

The STAR crossed paths with the Hummer along Roxas Boulevard yesterday afternoon, while it was cruising with a woman passenger and a male driver seen from the outside since the windows are not tinted. Apparently seeing attempts to get a photo of this moving violation, a white Toyota Fortuner, apparently its back-up vehicle, cut the unmarked vehicle of The STAR.

What makes it difficult to trace the ownership of this H2 vehicle is the fact that it does not bear any conduction sticker. This means it was brought into the country from abroad. Worse, its undentified owner could have evaded payment of customs duties for the vehicle, which is classified as a sports utility truck (SUT), not as a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

H2 vehicles are the latest high-end vehicles to flood the Philippines. A local car afficionado told The STAR that H2 vehicles are being sold in the country through the so-called “gray market,” or these are dealers of imported cars not sold by local distributors. At Philippine prices, it could be at least P5 million each, inclusive of taxes and duties.

A website of car dealers in the United States, where H2 vehicles are manufactured by General Motors (GM), shows that an H2 can be bought at $56,000.

From the Edmunds.com website, H2 is described as follows: “Despite its classification as a truck, the 2008 Hummer H2 SUT is basically an SUV with an outdoor bed-style rear section rather than a wagon-type hatchback. It seats five people and comes in one trim level. Generously equipped for off-road conditions, the H2 comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, a driver-selectable locking rear differential and underbody skid plates. Inside, the SUT includes dual-zone automatic climate control, auxiliary rear climate controls, leather upholstery, power front seats with driver memory, heated front and rear seats, a trip computer, remote ignition, OnStar and a Bose stereo system with in-dash six-CD changer, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.

“Under the hood, a larger 6.2-liter V8 propels the H2 SUT through a new six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.

“Inspired by the massive military-derived Hummer H1 off-road ground pounder, the full-size Hummer H2 debuted five years ago as the go-to choice for the ‘look at me’ crowd. Constructed of various bits and pieces from GM’s full-size truck and SUV parts bin, the H2’s rough-around-the-edges attitude were as much a part of its charm as its all-conquering off-road capability.

“More recently, however, the H2’s popularity has suffered as a result of escalating fuel prices, an aging design, changing consumer tastes and its status as a favored target in the crosshairs of environmentalists and other social critics. In the beginning, driving a Hummer would produce a thumb’s up. Today it could very well elicit another finger entirely. From Hummer’s standpoint, there’s not much that can be done about fuel prices and consumer wants, but it does have the ability to make the H2 better, and that was the mission for the updated 2008 model.”

[Taurus]

this should be in quotes ""

[hungryalien]

so whats the problem with having a H2? daming na dito pati H3..

[cc81352]

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage...StoryId=109107

[SIZE=2]Who is the owner of a brand new black Hummer-2 (H2) vehicle roaming the streets of Metro Manila without being stopped by police and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic aides?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]What is mysterious about this vehicle, which carries "8" car plates reserved for members of Congress, is that its plates do not have the usual marking of the province that the member of Congress is supposed to represent. The plates may be fake and the vehicle could be a "hot" car.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]The ownership of this vehicle could not be traced to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) because, instead of an LTO-issued car plate, it has a 2007 California car plate 7P78127 on the rear. At the back, it has a small pickup-style bed.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]The STAR crossed paths with the Hummer along Roxas Boulevard Wednesday afternoon, while it was cruising with a woman passenger and a male driver seen from the outside since the windows are not tinted. Apparently seeing attempts to get a photo of this moving violation, a white Toyota Fortuner, apparently its back-up vehicle, cut the unmarked vehicle of The STAR. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]What makes it difficult to trace the ownership of this H2 vehicle is the fact that it does not bear any conduction sticker. This means it was brought into the country from abroad. Worse, its undentified owner could have evaded payment of customs duties for the vehicle, which is classified as a sports utility truck (SUT), not as a sports utility vehicle (SUV). [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]H2 vehicles are the latest high-end vehicles to flood the Philippines. A local car afficionado told The STAR that H2 vehicles are being sold in the country through the so-called "gray market," or these are dealers of imported cars not sold by local distributors. At Philippine prices, it could be at least P5 million each, inclusive of taxes and duties. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]A website of car dealers in the United States, where H2 vehicles are manufactured by General Motors (GM), shows that an H2 can be bought at $56,000. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]From the Edmunds.com website, H2 is described as follows: "Despite its classification as a truck, the 2008 Hummer H2 SUT is basically an SUV with an outdoor bed-style rear section rather than a wagon-type hatchback. It seats five people and comes in one trim level. Generously equipped for off-road conditions, the H2 comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, a driver-selectable locking rear differential and underbody skid plates. Inside, the SUT includes dual-zone automatic climate control, auxiliary rear climate controls, leather upholstery, power front seats with driver memory, heated front and rear seats, a trip computer, remote ignition, OnStar and a Bose stereo system with in-dash six-CD changer, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]"Under the hood, a larger 6.2-liter V8 propels the H2 SUT through a new six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]"Inspired by the massive military-derived Hummer H1 off-road ground pounder, the full-size Hummer H2 debuted five years ago as the go-to choice for the ‘look at me’ crowd. Constructed of various bits and pieces from GM’s full-size truck and SUV parts bin, the H2’s rough-around-the-edges attitude were as much a part of its charm as its all-conquering off-road capability.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=2]"More recently, however, the H2’s popularity has suffered as a result of escalating fuel prices, an aging design, changing consumer tastes and its status as a favored target in the crosshairs of environmentalists and other social critics. In the beginning, driving a Hummer would produce a thumb’s up. Today it could very well elicit another finger entirely. From Hummer’s standpoint, there’s not much that can be done about fuel prices and consumer wants, but it does have the ability to make the H2 better, and that was the mission for the updated 2008 model."[/SIZE]

[ghosthunter]

Maybe the STAR reporter should have tried getting the plate number from the white Toyota Fortuner which tried to cut them off. Chances are, it would have the same owner & address.

[hungryalien]

"Who is the owner of a brand new black Hummer-2 (H2) vehicle roaming the streets of Metro Manila without being stopped by police and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic aides?"

so madalas nila nakikita to? or once lang? kasi "roaming the streets".. so they were following them the whole night? day? meron ba police actually trying to stop the h2?

labo nun news item.. 3/4 of the whole thing is about what hummer h2 is rather than what it did..

siguro news worthy sya kung HOT HUMMERS rather just one.. roaming the streets of metro manila.

[dbuzz]

"Who is the owner of a brand new black Hummer-2 (H2) vehicle roaming the streets of Metro Manila without being stopped by police and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic aides?"

so madalas nila nakikita to? or once lang? kasi "roaming the streets".. so they were following them the whole night? day? meron ba police actually trying to stop the h2?

labo nun news item.. 3/4 of the whole thing is about what hummer h2 is rather than what it did..

siguro news worthy sya kung HOT HUMMERS rather just one.. roaming the streets of metro manila.

pansin ko rin yun. more on ads ng hummer yung ginawa ng reporter na yun eh kaysa tunay na news reporting.

[chua_riwap]

Baka si Papi Willy ang may ari.............

[funkngruvn]

^^hindi nga daw sa kanya yun e! hehe

[bayonic]

nakikita ko rin ito sa harap ng SM Hypermart sa Tiendesitas ...
Astig mag park ! walang paki-alam at tipong hindi rin pinapansin ng mga sikyu at traffic enforcers.

[chua_riwap]

nakikita ko rin ito sa harap ng SM Hypermart sa Tiendesitas ...
Astig mag park ! walang paki-alam at tipong hindi rin pinapansin ng mga sikyu at traffic enforcers.

Mukhang "untouchable" ang may ari kung walang gustong sumita sa kumag na yun.

[Memphis Raines]

I can see that the reporter read the Hummer's brochure and it puts his report in bad taste

SUVs with number "8" plates "roaming Metro streets" are nothing new around here.

The white Fort seems to be more intriguing here being the baby sitter for the H2's occupants

[shadow]

:drive1: :drive1::drive1:

Binondo trucker owner of hot Hummer?
By Perseus Echeminada
Saturday, February 16, 2008 A trader in the transportation business was traced yesterday as the owner of the White Fortuner escorting a black Hummer H2 model with a special plate no. 8 but carries a California plate number.
STAR source at the land Transportation Office said the trader, who resides along Juan Luna St. in Binondo was the registered owner of the White Fortuner, which cut across The STAR vehicle along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
The source who refused to be identified said the trader, who manages a trucking firm at the Port of Manila could be the owner of the controversial vehicles, which do not have registered plates.
The identity of the trader was withheld by The STAR pending the result of the investigation being conducted by the LTO and other law enforcement agencies. The source theorized that the hot Hummer could have originated from the Port of Manila and driven with a special plate to avoid being checked by police and traffic enforcers.
“The use of the special plate was also used by car smugglers in Subic Bay Free Port to take out smuggled cars from the area,” the source said.
According to reports, smugglers usually use container vans in bringing in hot cargoes, which are being misdeclared as electronic equipment.
Customs officials have seized some of the hot cargoes during inspection but some managed to slip out with the help of some Customs insiders.
A crackdown initiated by the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Task Force has recovered some of the hot cars in repair shops and car display centers in various parts of Metro Manila.
Former Land Transportation chief Reynaldo Berroya in a report submitted to PASG last month said that cars bearing plate no. 8 have no record with the LTO.

[IMm29]

...and the plot thickens.

Smuggling just keeps getting worse and worse. So much for good governance. They still needed to create a PASG to do what the BOC couldn't do.

[shadow]

update....:car:

New twist in search for ‘hot’ Hummer

Monday, February 18, 2008 A trader based in Binondo, Manila – who reportedly drove a white Fortuner that served as an escort of a brand new Hummer H2 that cruised along Roxas Boulevard last week – has links to United States-based makers of armored cars used by private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, The STAR learned yesterday.
It is not known if the design of the black Hummer, which sported an “8” license plate in front and a California plate at the back, was similar to those used in the Middle East.
Sources told The STAR that the Hummer, which is an all-terrain vehicle, is being marketed to politicians in time for the upcoming elections.
“It’s an ideal campaign vehicle particularly in the hinterlands,” the source said.
He said the ideal place to smuggle the Hummer is through the port of Manila because of its proximity to Binondo, where the vehicle can just disappear.
Though the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group seized 81 luxury vehicles last year, some of which were reportedly smuggled through the ports of Manila and Subic, the PASG has yet to recover a Hummer. – Perseus Echeminada

[mark_t]

so whats the problem with having a H2? daming na dito pati H3..

no plate, no travel dapat

[dbuzz]

teka nagbago yata page dito. hhhmmm.

[dbuzz]

kaya pala taka ako kung bakit biglang nagbago ang page. hahahaha.

ayun pala ang dahilan ...

kasi [SIZE=3]dalawa pala ang thread na ito[/SIZE].

di napansin ng mods ito. hahaha.

[dbuzz]

ayun!! kaya pala sabi ko nagbago itong page iyun pala eh dadalawa pala itong thread na ito hehehe.

mods papano yun?

[shadow]

update....basta pag illegal or meron kalokohan it always ends up in the door steps of a Government institution.....

‘Mysterious’ Hummer spotted in Batasan
By Perseus Echeminada
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Authorities thought that the search for a hot car, a brand new black H2 Hummer, has ended when the vehicle was spotted at the grounds of the House of Representatives in Quezon City recently.
But even before lawmen could examine the vehicle, it has again disappeared.
Now, the Land Transportation Office is seeking the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law enforcement agencies to help in apprehending the driver of the hot vehicle.
LTO chief Alberto Suansing yesterday said his office is now coordinating with the PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) to intercept a brand new H2 Hummer truck spotted at the House of Representatives last week.
Suansing told The STAR that he himself saw the black Hummer coming out from the House of Representatives when he attended a Congressional hearing last week.
“I saw the vehicle bearing a number 8 plate. I have coordinated with the TMG and other law enforcement agencies to help us track down and intercept the vehicle, “ he said.
It was not known if the Hummer seen in Congress is the same vehicle sporting a number 8 plate and California plates and is escorted by a white Fortuner, which cut across an unmarked vehicle of The STAR last Friday.
Suansing said he will also coordinate with the House leadership to determine who among the more than 200 lawmakers is using the hot car.
Sources said that a powerful politician from the North, an actress and a Congressman from Visayas own H2 Hummers.
Suansing shared that since he assumed his post, there has been no record at the LTO of any brand new H2 vehicle and if it was imported, it does not have the necessary registration papers and plate number from the LTO.
“Definitely it’s a hot car. We will arrest the driver and impound the vehicle if is intercepted in the streets,” Suansing said.
The LTO chief clarified that owners of imported vehicles must first settle all their tax obligations before they register the vehicle with the LTO.