PNP-HPG busts renta-sangla syndicate—Dela Rosa

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday lauded the PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) for the successful busting of a renta-sangla syndicate. (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA—Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday lauded the PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) for the successful busting of a renta-sangla syndicate.

”I am pleased to announce the successful police intervention by the PNP Highway Patrol Group under Chief Supt Antonio N. Gardiola, Jr. that led to the busting of a syndicate engaged in an elaborate multi-million peso scheme involving loans secured from unsuspecting individuals and financial firms using rented motor vehicles as collateral,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Likewise, the PNP chief presented before the media the 107 motor vehicles from among the 457 “rented” cars recovered by the HPG during a series of operations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon.

Dela Rosa said the renta-sangla syndicate which scammed billions of pesos from its victims can be considered to be engaged in economic sabotage.

He added the syndicate runs a sophisticated operation as many of its victims were even policemen whom they duped out of their hard-earned savings by convincing them to invest their money in a car-rental business.

For his part, Gardiola said the syndicate made off with over 1,800 cars since it started operating in 2007, and so far, 900 of these have been recovered by the HPG and other law enforcement agencies.

The syndicate consisting of five members headed by a certain Rafaela Anonsiyasyon, who is still at large, will be charged with large-scale estafa.

Around 1,800 motor vehicles were reportedly involved in this case of large-scale estafa thru the “Rent-Sangla” scheme.

Several persons had been arrested and are now under investigation for alleged involvement in this illegal activity.

The PNP chief endorsed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the request of the HPG to place the five other suspected syndicate members under immigration lookout bulletin (ILBO) to prevent their escape and hasten their arrest.

Dela Rosa congratulated the HPG for heeding the call of the PNP leadership to intensify intelligence-driven police operations against syndicated crime groups, particularly those engaged in the seven major crime concerns of murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, theft, robbery and carnapping.

The PNP chief stressed that “the operational thrust of the PNP against these major crime concerns comes alongside the ongoing internal cleansing effort that we are waging in all levels of command.”

Likewise, Dela Rosa ordered the HPG to expedite the processing and release of the recovered vehicles to its rightful owners.