Under the existing Philippine laws, carnapping, or the illegal act of taking, stealing, or unauthorized use of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and with the intention to gain possession or control of the vehicle permanently, is a criminal offense that carries severe penalties. Carnappers can face imprisonment and fines, depending on the circumstances and gravity of the offense. If you are a victim, however, you need to learn about the legal process as well as the legal consequences to seek justice and deter other potential perpetrators from stealing other people’s car.
The act of carnapping or motor vehicle theft is covered by the Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 (Republic Act No. 10883). It established the legal framework for the protection of motor vehicle owners as well as the procedures that they need to go through in order to increase the odds of recovering your car.
What is a PNP-HPG Certificate of Nationwide Alarm
The Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA) is a document issued to the complainant or applicant of nationwide alarm for stolen or carnapped vehicles. The certification is issued by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to the complainant upon the submission of or compliance with the documentary requirements for filing of nationwide alarm. Before the certificate is issued, however, it requires the approval of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) as well as the Director of the HPG.
Not all cases of lost or stolen motor vehicles end up with a Certificate of National Alarm. Depending on the case, the guideline for what happens in case the motor vehicle do not get issued a nationwide are as follows:
- If the MVCC and the director of the PNP-HPG are convinced of the veracity of the complaint and all documentary requirements were satisfied: The complainant/applicant will then be allowed to accomplish the HPG Alarm and Complaint Sheets.
- If there were doubts in the truthfulness of the complaint or if the documentary requirements were not met: The said MV will only be placed under radio voice alarm/watch list or hold-order until such the issue is resolved.
Lost or Stolen Vehicle Categorized under the 24-hour Validity Period for Radio Voice/Flash alarm
- Complaints received from the local police Stations.
- Complaint/s that originates from the PNP-HPG office which falls under the category of Rent Tangay, Rent-Sangla, Failed to Return, and Estafa
Not Included for 24-Hours Validity Period
- Stolen While Parked Unattended (SWPU)
- Forcibly Taken (FT)
- If the circumstance of the complaint does not constitute a crime of carnapping: The MV will be merely recommended for inclusion in the watch list.
- If the Alarm and Complaint Sheet is approved: The certificate of nationwide alarm will be issued with a control number and a copy will then be released to the complainant/applicant.
Who may Avail or Acquire a Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA)
The following people are the only ones who are eligible to or may need to request for and acquire a Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA):
- Registered owner of motor vehicle that has been stolen or lost
- Authorized representative of the registered owner of motor vehicle that has been stolen or lost
Requirements for PNP-HPG Nationwide Alarm
Listed below are the complete documentary requirements that one must prepare following the loss or theft of his motor vehicle, that is, if he wants to request putting up a nationwide alarm for the subject MV.
Initial Requirements
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of filled up PNP-HPG Complaint Sheet
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of Police Report and Incident Record Form
- ONE (1) original copy of Validation Report from the concerned validating team; (Stolen While Parked Unattended (SWPU) & Forcibly Taken (FT))
- Original OR/CR or sales invoice of the Subject MV.
If the MV is encumbered:
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the Certificate of Encumbrance and Statement of Account
- One photocopy of the OR/CR authenticated by the financing company, if the MV is encumbered
If the MV is registered to the company:
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the Secretary Certificate and Board Resolution stating the authorized representative of the company
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the authenticated copies of MV records from LTO
- Sales invoice
- OR/CR
- PNP-HPG MV Clearance Certificate
- Photocopy of previous Deed of Sale of MV
- Inspection Report authenticated by LTO and clearly showing the stencil of the engine and chassis numbers
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the Filed Carnapping Case with IS# indicating the name of the suspect/s
- Four (4) photocopies of two (2) pcs of Ignition Keys of motor vehicle/motorcycles.
- Four (4) photocopies of Insurance Policy – (CTPL or TPL)
- Four (4) photocopies of Certification of Police Report
- Four (4) photocopies of Certified true copy of Incident Report Form
- Four (4) photocopies of Certified true copy of Police Blotter from the local PNP unit who has territorial jurisdiction of the area where the incident occurred
- Four (4) photocopies of two (2) Valid identification cards with three (3) Specimen signatures of the rightful owner and the person who has control of the MV when it was seized
- Four (4) photocopies of the latest two (2) pieces of 2”x3” picture of the rightful owner and the person who has control of the motor vehicle when it was seized
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the Motor Vehicle Deed of Sale if the possessor of the MV has not yet transferred in his name.
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the Special Power of Attorney (SPA) for individual applicants, if the registered owner is not present.
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the death Certificate and Marriage Certificate (For Surviving Spouse)
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of Extrajudicial Settlement (For Surviving Heirs).
- One (1) original copy and three (3) photocopies of the Prosecutor’s Office Resolution for FTR/Estafa cases elevated to Carnapping.
Requirements for Radio Voice/Flash Alarm
- One (1) copy of duly filled out Complaint Sheet/Sinumpaang Salaysay
- One (1) copy of valid ID of the Complainant/Victim
- One (1) photocopy of OR/CR (if available)
- One (1) copy of the Police Report if reported at Local Police Stations
- Valid ID of the registered owner/driver possessor of the MV.
Procedures for Securing a Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA)
For the complete procedures for securing a CNA, please see the steps below:
Step 1: Visit the nearest office of the PNP-HPG which is usually in close proximity to the nearest branch of the Land Transportation Office (LTO)
Step 2: Secure and accomplish the Complaint sheet/Sinumpaang Salaysay from the PNP-HPG Duty Investigator
Step 3: Complete the initial interview with the duty investigator (SOD, MVCS/RHPUs)
Step 4: Get the Complaint Sheet notarized following the direction given by the duty investigator
Step 5: After getting the Complaint Sheet notarized, submit it, along with the other photocopies of the other initial requirements to the duty investigator for review and evaluation of completeness.
Step 6: Submit the original copy of the documentary requirements for Nationwide Alarm for evaluation of authenticity and approval of the chief of Motor Vehicle Complaint Section (MVCS).
Step 7: Upon approval, wait for the incident report from the SOD-MVCS/RHPU to be approved by the director of the PNP-HPG and for the vehicle to be put on the watch list.
Step 8: Receive the approval notice and the alarm number and submit it to the Records Section for encoding of the VIMS (MVCD).
Step 9: Proceed to the Releasing Section of the MVCS.
Step 10: Wait for the Certificate of Nationwide Alarm to be released.
Processing Time
The processing of the request for Certificate of Nationwide Alarm will take approximately fourteen (14) days and two (2) hours to complete, after the complete documentary requirements have been submitted.
Important Reminders
For your reference, here are some important reminders to take note of:
- The appearance of the rightful owner and the person who has control of the MV when it was reportedly seized is necessary for interview purposes, so the PNP-HPG can check the veracity of his complaint and get more information and specific details relative to the loss of the reported MV.
- Only if the MVCS duty investigator is convinced of the veracity of the complaint and all documentary requirements will the complainant/applicant be allowed to accomplish the PNP-HPG Alarm and Complaint Sheets.
- After the complainant has duly accomplished the Alarm and Complaint Sheets, it will be recommended to the section chief for review and approval.
- If approved, the alarm will be issued with a control number and a copy will be released to the complainant/applicant.
Video: How to Request for Nationwide Alarm
Learn about the requirements and procedures for requesting to put your lost or stolen motor vehicle on the watch list and securing an alarm tag and a Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA) by watching this video from Motoristang lespu:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For more information, here are some common questions and answers regarding the processing of requests for Certificate of Nationwide Alarm:
1. How much does it cost to request for a Certificate of Nationwide Alarm?
It’s free, though you may have to spend some for the requirements like the notary fee and photocopy and certification of certified true copies of required documents.
2. What are LTO Alarm Tags?
Alarm tags on vehicles refer to the active LTO records of existing or pending traffic violations or apprehensions. Having an alarm tag on your vehicle means the vehicle may be previously involved in an accident or in the commission of a crime or it may be on the watch list of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP – HPG) for stolen or carnapped vehicles. It may also mean that the vehicle has an active complaint against it or an active case with either the Department of Health (DoH), the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), or the Internal Investigation Division (IID).
3. What does it mean to have an LTO alarm tag?
LTO alarm tags are placed on “hot” vehicles with bad records at the Land Transportation Office (LTO). This may also be placed when a driver or car owner reports the loss or theft of his motor vehicle, and upon the release of the Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA).
4. How do I file for an LTO alarm?
Other than visiting the Motor Vehicle Complaint Section (MVCS) of the PNP-HPG, other ways of doing so include sending a report through the LTO’s official social media page, including the official social media pages of their regional offices or sending an email to the ltocdmpao@lto.gov.ph. You may also send in reports by calling the hotline 1-342-586 or use the CitiSend app to file for an alarm.
5. What is the vehicle identification number (VIN)?
The vehicle identification number, or VIN, is 17 unique character codes implanted on every manufactured vehicle in the world. It contains the histories and reports on a car that can be used for verification, identification, and many more.
6. What is Motor Vehicle PNP-HPG clearance?
A Motor Vehicle (MV) Clearance Certificate issued by the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is an official document that certifies that the vehicle is not on the list of wanted or stolen vehicles as of the issue date.
Summary
Reporting the loss or theft of your motor vehicle is tantamount to requesting for it to be put on nationwide alarm. Doing so will also get you, the owner, a Certificate of Nationwide Alarm (CNA) to help you prove your claim on the vehicle. Though every vehicle is usually already built with GPS for easy tracking, it’s best to still secure a CNA and let the PNP-HPG do its job. After all, they are the experts when it comes to policing the roads and it will be so much easier for them to track and find lost or stolen vehicles. They also watch the roads so they’ll know if the vehicle has been taken out of town or not.