[SIZE=2]The Philippine Star - Metro
Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Cops arrest Parañaque City drag racers
By Cecille Suerte Felipe

The Philippine National Police Traffic Management Group (TMG) arrested the other night 21 drivers and impounded their motorcycles that were involved in illegal drag racing at the Diosdado Macapagal Blvd., in Parañaque City.

TMG director Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said the police operatives issued traffic violation tickets to the motorcycle owners while their vehicles were brought to the TMG headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. Policemen were deployed to the area following reports that motorcycle and car drivers are using the Macapagal Blvd. for drag racing at night when the road is almost deserted.

Senior Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, chief of the TMG-National Capital Region (NCR) said the drag racers were charged with over-speeding while the motorcycles were seized for various violations that included the unauthorized change of color, fake registration and fake vehicle plates.

Gunnacao said the vehicles have been subjected to macro-etching examination to determine whether the engine and body numbers were included in the list of stolen vehicles.

He said that the TMG operation was meant to stop illegal drag racing, which sometimes results in the loss of lives and damage to property due to the absence of safety measures.

The TMG had also received reports of illegal drag races in Subic, Zambales and Batangas.

Meanwhile, Gunnacao’s agents also recovered four stolen vehicles in Sitio Gumain, Barangay Lourdes, Bamban, Tarlac.

Among those recovered were a dark-green colored Honda Civic (WJF-887); green Mitsubishi Estrada pick up (CNV-138); white Nissan Urvan (ZGA-927); and a black Honda Civic (UGL-163).

Police gathered that the Nissan Urvan was stolen while parked in Bago Bantay in Quezon City last Oct. 10, while the Honda Civic was taken while parked in Barangay Bahay Toro, Project 8, also in Quezon City.

Police said the Honda Civic has no records with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

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