Lozano proposes stiffer penalties for car theft

Lawyer Oliver Lozano, whose son was abducted and killed by alleged carjackers last month, on Monday proposed stiffer penalties for car theft before the House of Representatives. Lozano presented before House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. a proposed measure amending Republic Act 6539 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972. “Nagiging mas matatapang ang carnappers, kaya naisip natin na magmungkahi ng batas na hindi lang carnapper ang paparusahan ng life imprisonment at no bail. Kasama na sa paparusahan ang officials na protectors ng carnappers," he told reporters before his meeting with Belmonte. (Carnappers are becoming more and more fearless that’s why I proposed stiffer penalties for them, like life imprisonment and no bail. I also want their protectors in the government to be given the same punishment.) Lozano asked Congress to make car theft a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of P10 million, “with or without killing, rape, force or intimidation." The proposed measure likewise stated that “protectors, buyers and users of carnapped vehicles" shall suffer the same penalties imposed on people who commit car theft. Government officials who will be involved in car theft shall also be removed from office and perpetually disqualified from holding any public post, according to Lozano’s proposal. Lozano’s son, Emerson, and driver Ernane Sensil, were abducted and killed last month while reportedly accompanying a prospective buyer for a test drive. In the same week, another car dealer, Venson Evangelista, was found dead in Nueva Ecija, supposedly also after a test drive with a prospective buyer. The Dominguez carnapping syndicate from Central Luzon has already been tagged in the series of abductions and killings. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News