Highway cops bust ‘rent-sangla’ syndicate

Highway patrol policemen have busted a big carnapping syndicate who duped an estimated 1,800 car owners in a car rental business, whose vehicles were eventually used as collateral for loans from lending firms.

The syndicate which had been operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, is believed to have raked in millions, even billions,

of pesos since it started in 2007.

Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he considers the group headed by partners Tychicus Nambio and Rafaela Anunciation as big-time as the duo might have already raked in multi-million pesos, or even billions, during their 10-year operation.

“This is one syndicate which has already perfected the scheme. This is a big group and the money involved could reach a billion, or even 13 billion, if we just multiply 1,800 cars at one million pesos each,” said Dela Rosa.

Rent-sangla scheme The modus operandi has been the subject of the intelligence operation for a long time now and was only confirmed with the arrest last week of Nambio in Laguna.

Dubbed as “Rent-Sangla scheme,’ Dela Rosa explained that members of the syndicate would rent vehicles from car rental firms and even private individuals doing car rental business.

They would then use the rented vehicles as collateral when they avail of loans in various lending firms.

Dela Rosa said the group usually targets latest models of sports utility vehicles, as per report on the operation conducted by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).

Sweet-talking members would then convince loan agencies or private individuals to extend loans to them with the rented cars as collateral, the PNP Chief said.

Identified HPG Director, Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, tagged Anunciacion as the mastermind. She said Anunciacion’s last address was in Pacita Complex in San Pedro, Laguna. She remains at large.

Other members of the syndicate who remain in hiding were identified as Eleonor Rosales, alias Lea; Anastacia Cauyan; and Jhennelyn Berroya.

“I am endorsing to the Department of Justice the request of HPG to place the other suspected syndicate members under an immigration lookout bulletin to prevent their escape and hasten their arrest,” said Dela Rosa.

Latest information said some of the suspects are hiding in Visayas and Mindanao, he said.

Recovered Gardiola said they have recovered more than 400 vehicles that were taken by the syndicate in scam operations in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

He said the 400 vehicles are part of some 900 vehicles which were also recovered by other law enforcement agencies also working on the case.

“We are looking for more because there are more or less 1,800 vehicles involved in this scheme,” said Gardiola.

Some of the recovered vehicles were presented to the media in a press briefing yesterday morning at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

As the recovered cars will be used as evidence, Dela Rosa said he would make sure that all of them are returned to their owners in the soonest possible time.

Anti-fencing law

“I am instructing the HPG to expedite the processing and release of recovered vehicles to its rightful owners,” he said.

But he warned that they are conducting background investigation as to who among those who bought or took the car would be slapped with violation of the anti-fencing law.

200 complainants

There are currently 200 complainants against the syndicate of Anunciacion and Nambio, which make the case a nonbailable offense of large-scale estafa.

“We thank General Dela Rosa for this. Our car has been missing and we are so happy that it would finally be returned to us,” said Alejandro Marcos of Bulacan, one of the victims.