Police recapture ‘brains’ in bigtime car rental scam

IN CUSTODY ONCE MORE Rafaela Montes Anunciacion is presented by the PNP-HPG in a press briefing at Camp Crame after she was rearrested in Laguna province. —JAM STA ROSA

The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has encouraged victims of a car rental scheme to file more charges against the alleged mastermind who, together with her accomplices, reportedly duped hundreds of vehicle owners.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo, PNP-HPG director, announced the rearrest on Saturday of Rafaela Montes Anunciacion in her hometown of San Pedro, Laguna, on the strength of a warrant issued by the Valenzuela City Regional Trial Court for swindling or estafa.

Anunciacion was first arrested last year after charges of syndicated or large-scale estafa were filed against her and seven others by the PNP-HPG in the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The case was in connection with the controversial “rent-sangla (pawn)” car scam allegedly masterminded by the 57-year-old suspect.
Modus operandi
Under the scam, vehicles rented by the syndicate for P35,000 to P45,000 a month were either sold or pawned off without the knowledge of their owners. The group allegedly victimized at least 500 people in Central and Southern Luzon.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the DOJ had already recommended the indictment of Anunciacion and seven others on 14 counts of large-scale estafa.

In a resolution, the DOJ pointed out that the suspect and her corespondents had no car rental business registered either with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Trade and Industry, or the local government of Laguna province.

The PNP-HPG said that Anunciacion was also facing several other charges: a criminal case in the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, a bouncing check case in the Taytay, Rizal Prosecutor’s Office, an estafa case in the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office and a car theft case in the Manila Regional Trial Court. However, it seemed that she had always been able to post bail.

‘Significant rearrest’

“Her [rearrest] is significant … and we hope this will stop or at least minimize their ‘carnapping’ [modus],” Fajardo said. “Hopefully, the complainants come out to [pursue] file their cases against her.”

At the same time, he advised vehicle owners to be more cautious about who they rent out their cars to. He also suggested that they install GPS devices in their vehicles and include a driver in the rental contract should they choose to engage in such a business.