Planning to Buy a Van Soon? Don't Get One in White and Here's Why

If you happen to be in the market for a van soon--be it a commuter-type for business like the Nissan NV350 Urvan or the aptly-named Toyota Hiace Commuter or for personal comfort with a touch of class like the Toyota Alphard or the recently-launched Toyota Hiace Super Grandia--may we suggest that you get it in any color other than white because apparently, the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is keeping a close eye on this type of vehicle. And here's why.

The influx of Chinese nationals employed in Philippine offshore gaming operations, or POGOs as they are called, has resulted in many undocumented or overstaying illegal aliens. And with many POGOs operating within the Aseana area in Pasay City, the PNP-HPG has supposedly started to watch out for them along the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in the vehicles they're usually transported in--and you guessed it, in white vans.

As to why this information became public, it's because the PNP-HPG stopped the wrong van: one that's owned by one of the country's prominent lawmakers.

As the story goes, the solon was traversing Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard when her van was stopped by police officers attached to the HPG. At first, it was the solon's security personnel who were dealing with the police, but when things started to take time, the solon decided to make an appearance. It was only then that the HPG officers backed off and apologized to the solon.

Once the solon was in the hallowed halls of the legislative branch of the government, the lawmaker shared the experience and was simply told "naka-Alphard ka kasi."

As narrated by the other solons who heard the story, the HPG is on the lookout for white vans along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard because this is the type of vehicle commonly used by POGOs in the area to transport their Chinese employees. And as it just so happens, the solon was using a Toyota Alphard clad in Luxury White Pearl.

So, if you're planning to buy a van soon, please do so in any color other than white--or any other way the Japanese brands would call it like 'Luxury Pearl Toning'. As for the solon, it may be time to use or buy a Toyota Land Cruiser instead?