‘Rent-sangla’ suspect accuses HPG of using heavy-handed tactics

The alleged brains behind the “rent-sangla” scheme accused members of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) of forcing car owners to file a case against her or they will no longer recover their vehicles.

“Rent-sangla” is a scheme enticing car owners to rent out their vehicles for P35,000 to P45,000 a month.

Once the owners agreed, their vehicles will never be returned to them as these are either mortgaged or sold to different persons without their knowledge.

The car rental scam has reportedly victimized some 500 people in Central and Southern Luzon.

Rafaela Anunciacion, in her counter-affidavit, said complainants were only forced to file a complaint by the PNP-HPG or they would no longer recover their vehicles.

After recovering their vehicles, Anunciacion said car owners withdrew the cases against her.

Another respondent, Anastacia Cauyan, in her counter-affidavit, also pointed out that some complainants already withdrew the cases filed against her.

The DOJ panel scheduled another hearing for Friday, March 31, for filing of answers of the other respondents – Tychicus Nambia, Sabina Torrea, Eliseo Cortez, Eleanor Constantino, Marilou Cruz, Jhennelyn Berroya, Ana Borlon and Lea Rosales.

The complaints were filed by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group and several sets of victims of the scam from Bulacan, Laguna, Angeles City, Batangas and Nueva Ecija.

Anunciacion was arrested last March 2 by members of the Philippine National Police Regional Highway Patrol Unit 4-A’s special operations team upon the issuance of warrant for estafa by Judge Francisco Pano of San Pedro, Laguna regional trial court branch 93. But she was granted bail because the estafa case against her is bailable.