Highway patrol policemen have busted a big carnapping syndicate which duped an estimated 1,800 car owners in Metro Manila and nearby provinces since the group started its operation in 2007.
Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said he considers the group headed by partners Tychicus Nambio and Rafaela Anunciation as big-time as the duo might have already raked in multi-million pesos in even billions during their 10-year operation.
“This is one syndicate which has already perfected the scheme. This is a big group that the money involved could reach a billion, or even P3 billion if we just multiply 1,800 cars at one million pesos each,” said dela Rosa.
The modus operandi has been the subject of the intelligence operation for a long time now and was only confirmed with the arrest last week of Nambio in Laguna.
Dubbed as Rent-Sangla scheme, dela Rosa explained that members of the syndicate would rent vehicles from car rental firms and even private individuals doing car rental business.
They would then use the vehicles they rented as collateral when they avail of loans in various lending firms.
Dela Rosa said the group usually targets latest models of sports utility vehicles as what was disclosed during the operation conducted by the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).
The PNP Chief said the group had sweet-talking members who have been proven to be effective in convincing loan agencies and private individuals in availing loans using the rented vehicles as collateral.
HPG Director, Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, tagged Anunciacion as the mastermind. She said Anunciacion’s last address was in Pacita Complex in San Pedro, Laguna. She remains at large.
He identified other members of the syndicate who remain in hiding as Eleonor Rosales, alias Lea; Anastacia Cauyan; and Jhennelyn Berroya.
“I am endorsing to the Department of Justice the request of HPG to place the other suspected syndicate members under immigration lookout bulletin to prevent their escape and hasten their arrest,” said dela Rosa.
Based on the latest information they received, dela Rosa said some of the suspects are already hiding in Visayas and Mindanao.
So far, Gardiola said they have already recovered more than 400 vehicles that were taken by the syndicate in various operations in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
But he said what they recovered is part of the more or less 900 vehicles which were recovered by other law enforcement agencies also working on the case.
“We are looking for more because there are more or less 1,800 vehicles involved in this scheme,” said Gardiola.
(AARON B. RECUENCO)