PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa and HPG director Chief Superintendent Antonio Gardiola. Photo by Philip Tubeza/Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is asking the Department of Justice to heed the request of the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and place the members of a syndicate employing “Rent-Sangla” scheme under immigration lookout bulletin.
“I am endorsing to the Department of Justice the request of HPG to place five other suspected syndicate members under immigration lookout bulletin to prevent their escape and hasten their arrest,” Dela Rosa said during the presentation of 107 “rented” cars the HPG recovered in several operations.
Four persons are still in hiding including the syndicate’s alleged mastermind Rafaela Anunciacion, her secretary, and two other agents, said Dela Rosa.
Anunciacion’s live-in partner Tychicus Nambio has been arrested and is detained at Biñan police in Laguna.
Anunciacion, a native of Batanes, is a resident of San Pedro, Laguna. Police are also going after her secretary Eleanor Rosales, a resident of Sta. Rosa, Laguna; agent Anastacia Cauyan, a resident of Biñan, Laguna; and agent Jhennelyn Berroyo, also from San Pedro, Laguna.
Cases for violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code for Swindling and Estafa in large scale form were filed against the suspects before the DOJ last February 16.
Dela Rosa said Anunciacion’s group has been involved in a multi-million peso scheme involving loans secured from unsuspecting individuals and financial firms using rented motor vehicles as collateral.
After the weekly flag raising ceremony in Camp Crame, Dela Rosa presented the 107 motor vehicles from among 457 “rented” cars the HPG cofiscated during a series of operations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.
But at least 1,800 motor vehicles are believed to be involved in the scam.
“I would like to congratulate the HPG for heeding the call of the PNP leadership to intensify intelligence-driven police operations against syndicated crime groups, particularly those engaged in the seven major crime concerns of murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, theft, robbery and carnapping,” Dela Rosa said.
He also instructed the HPG to expedite the processing and release of recovered vehicles to their owners. JE/rga
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