NBI nabs woman selling cars with tampered engines

MANILA, Philippines - National Bureau of Investigation agents recently arrested in Manila a woman who sold cars with tampered engine and chassis numbers to unsuspecting buyers.

In a statement, the NBI identified the suspect as Rachel del Carmen Manzanares, alias Baby, of Tubad, Surigao Del Norte. Manzanares was arrested on Jan. 14 at the Aloha Hotel, Malate, Manila by NBI operatives assigned at the Anti-Organized Crime Division (AOCD) headed by Assistant Regional Director Marianito Panganiban by virtue of two warrants of arrest.

One is for execution of sentence,  issued against her in a criminal case for estafa issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 32, Surigao City, and the other case also for estafa issued by RTC Branch 4, Butuan City, where she jumped bail.

The warrants of arrest were issued in January 1997 and since then she remained at-large. The arrest was a result of the request for service of warrant of arrest made by one of the victims identified as Gix Tiujongco.

After the victim received information that the suspect was in Manila, he immediately sought the assistance of the NBI.

Upon her arrest, the NBI seized fake identification cards from the suspect with aliases Cristy Cinco and Milaflor Tamar. The suspect tried to deny she was the suspect the NBI was looking for as she presented one of the identification cards.

However, Tiujongco was able to identify the suspect.

The NBI also plans to charge the suspect for concealing true name and falsification of public documents.