JOE-911. That’s the vanity plate number of a P5-million white Porsche being driven by Paulino Elevado, the pistol-packing Bureau of Customs clerk when he was caught on video chasing two unarmed students and firing at the latter’s vehicle in Pasay City last January 21.

A record check conducted by the Journal Group showed that the 2006 model Porsche Carrera 4S is registered under the name of one Reynovitch Cruz Reyes of no. 22 Roxas Street, Xavierville 2, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Its current registration was last January 4 and a check with the Land Transportation Office showed that it has no LTO apprehension and is not included in the alarm list.

However, Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group director Chief Superintendent Leonardo A. Espina said they have to double check the records of the controversial Porsche since there is a possibility that it could have been already sold to another person.

There were speculations that Elevado owns the Porsche he was driving when he and a businessman-friend named Roberto Bato figured in a car chase along the South Luzon Expressway which ended in a hotel near Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

Elevado, after failing to report to his office for days following the incident, surfaced last Tuesday and told BoC Commissioner Rufino Biazon that he is not the owner of the Porsche. He claimed he was merely acting as an “agent” for its sale. Biazon ordered Elevado’s suspension pending a lifestyle check on the employee who supposedly merely receives a monthly salary of just P9,000.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome has ordered the revocation of the firearms’ licenses and Permit-to-Carry-Fireams-Outside-of-Residence issued to both Elevado and Bato in the wake of the charges filed against them.

PNP-FED director, Senior Supt. Raul D. Petrasanta said that effective last February 1, the PTCFOR and the licenses issued to the caliber .40 Taurus pistol of Paulino C. Elevado and the cal. .45 Sam Shooter pistol of his businessman-companion Florencio Bato have been revoked.

Elevado’s pistol was confiscated after the shooting incident. Petrasanta said the BoC clerk will be barred from applying for a new gun license until he is exonerated of the charges filed against him.

Petrasanta said that as a result of the revocation, the two guns now face confiscation of the government. Under the law, the gun license of an individual may be revoked and the weapon forfeited in favor of the government in case the owner commits infractions and commit crimes using the licensed weapon.

The two are now facing charges of physical injuries and attempted murder.

Petrasanta said that last January 27, they placed Elevado and Bato’s firearms’ licenses on their “watch list” to prevent their sale or transfer or renewal of license for possible revocation as a result of their offense.          Alfred Dalizon