Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares presenting at a budget hearing of the Senate of the Philippines in September 2012 (photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Poe)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday filed a resolution to investigate what she called the “carnapping of vehicles disguised as towing.”
“Illegal towing tantamount to carnapping must be punished to protect citizens’ fundamental rights,” Poe said in Senate Proposed Resolution No. 708.
Poe’s proposal came in the wake of increasing complaints of illegal towing by alleged syndicates, in violation of the property rights of unsuspecting vehicle owners.
The senator noted that as of May 2014, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has accredited only 24 towing companies.
Poe’s resolution urged the MMDA and the Philippine National Police to “initiate a crackdown on fly-by-night operators and criminal syndicates that unlawfully tow and charge exorbitant fees.”
She also called on authorities to conduct a strict compliance check on towing firms nationwide to ensure adherence to the law.
Incidents of illegal towing can be considered car theft, she said. (MNS)