PNP to DOJ: 'Issue lookout order vs Rent-Sangla masterminds'

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, February 20, to issue a lookout bulletin order against the persons involved in the multi-million peso scheme dubbed as “Rent-Sangla.”

“I am endorsing to the Department of Justice (DOJ) the request of HPG (Highway Patrol Group) to place five other suspected syndicate members under immigration lookout bulletin to prevent their escape and hasten their arrest,” he said during the presentation of 107 vehicles employed in the Rent-Sangla scheme recovered by the HPG during several operations in Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog, and Central Luzon.

Earlier, victims of the Rent-Sangla modus urged the DOJ to place Tychicus Historillo Nambio, Rafaela Asunciacion, and Eleonor Constantino Rosales–the alleged masterminds of the scheme–as well as their agents Anastacia Cauyan and Jhennelyn Berroyo, under the immigration lookout bulletin.

Nambio was arrested and is currently detained at the Biñan Police Office in Laguna while the other suspects went into hiding.

The suspects are facing cases for violation of Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, for Swindling and Estafa in large scale form, before the DOJ.

Dela Rosa said the HPG is looking into the possibility that bank personnel are involved in the said scheme.

“Isipin n’yo meron nga 16 na daw na nasasakyan na na-loan doon sa isang bangko, hindi man lang naalarma ang bangko, hindi man lang nare-report sa pulis. Ang sabi 2007 pa nagsimula ang sindikato na ito, over the period of time imposible naman na nakakabayad palagi yung 16 na sasakyan na iisa ang owner,” he added.

HPG Director Chief Superintendent Antonio Gardiola said several banks already coordinated with them to discuss the matter, although they are yet to discover any collusion between the said syndicate and the bank personnel.

Since the Rent-Sangla modus was discovered, the HPG have recovered 457 vehicles, 40 of which were already released to their owners.

Gardiola said a total of 1,800 vehicles were employed in the scheme. (SunStar Philippines)