The suspected mastermind in a big-time “rent-sangla” (rent-pawn) scam was arrested again by the police on Saturday in San Pedro, Laguna.
Rafaela Anuncacion, 57, was arrested by members of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) in a parking area of a shopping mall, authorities said in a press conference Tuesday.
Anuncacion is allegedly behind a scheme where members of her group rent a vehicle but pawn it to other people without the knowledge of the owner, according to Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo, Officer-in-Charge of the PNP-HPG.
Her group reportedly operates in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Southern Luzon, he said.
According to Fajardo, at least 514 of 608 impounded vehicles from Anuncacion’s group in 2017 have been returned to its owners. Another 29 new vehicles were recovered in 2018, he said.
Anuncacion was also arrested in March 2017 but was released a few days after posting a P40,000 bail.
READ: Car rental scam brains out on bail
The suspect was taken under police custody as charges on estafa are being prepared against her.
But Fajardo wants the case to be upgraded to non-bailable syndicated estafa, which is only possible if complainants will together file the case against her.
“We are calling on complainants to come together. Huwag isa-isa (Don’t file it one by one),” he said.
He also advised car owners to be wary of people to whom they lend their vehicles and also advised them to install a Global Positioning System (GPS) device in their cars to track its location. /jpv