Rent-sangla scam mastermind falls

MANILA, Philippines -  The alleged mastermind of a multimillion-peso car rental scam and two other suspects were arrested in separate operations on Thursday.

Rafaela Anunciacion, alias Ella, and her son Kyle, 27, were collared at their residence at the Ciudad San Jose Subdivision in Barangay San Lorenzo in  Sta. Rosa City, Laguna at around 8:30 p.m.

Anunciacion’s alleged cohort Tychicus Nambia was arrested when he did not appear at the hearing of the estafa case filed against him before the San Pedro Regional Trial Court (RTC). Nambia was recently arrested in Biñan City for estafa, but he posted bail.

Superintendent Samson Belmonte, Highway Patrol  Group (HPG)-Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) director, said Anunciacion was presented to RTC Branch 93 Judge Francisco Paño, who issued a warrant of arrest for another estafa case filed against her.

Anunciacion along with  Anastacia Cauyan, Sabina Torrea, Tychicus Nambia, Eliseo Cortez and two others whose names were not immediately available were charged with carjacking, swindling and syndicated estafa before the Department of Justice last week.

Anunciacion’s group allegedly duped more than 800 vehicle owners across the country into lending their vehicles, which they later pawned.

The HPG seized more than 400 vehicles in anti-carjacking operations in Bulacan,  Metro Manila and Calabarzon. The National Bureau of Investigation and Task Force Limbas recovered 275  other vehicles.