9 charged in rent-sangla scam

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  – Police have filed charges against the alleged mastermind of the rent-sangla scam and eight others who allegedly duped vehicle owners across the country into leasing their cars.

Charges of carjacking, swindling and syndicated estafa were filed on Thursday before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against Rafaela Anunciacion and her alleged cohorts Anastacia Cauyan, Sabina Torrea, Tychicus Nambia, Eliseo Cortez and two others whose names were not immediately available.

Superintendent Joel Jucutan, deputy regional director of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), said a tracker team composed of Task Force Limbas and intelligence agents launched a manhunt for the suspects.

“We are waiting for the release of arrest warrants against Anunciacion and her companions,” Jucutan said.

He urged the public to help locate and arrest the suspects.

The DOJ has issued a lookout bulletin against the respondents.

At least 40 vehicles have been released to car owners in the past two days.

The real car owners and the third parties to whom the vehicles were sold have reportedly settled the matter amicably and agreed to file charges against the syndicate.

More than 400 vehicles were seized by HPG4A operatives in separate anti-carjacking operations in Bulacan and Metro Manila as well as in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

The National Bureau of Investigation and Task Force Limbas recovered at least 275 more.