CIDG-NCRFU nabs 3 for rob-extort
THE Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Saturday announced the arrest of three men accused of extorting money from bank car loan applicants who have failed to pay their monthly amortization on time on the pretext they won’t pull out their vehicles, a report to PNP-CIDG Director Brigadier General Ronald O. Lee said.
According to CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit (CIDG-NCRFU) Chief Col. Randy Glenn G. Silvio, they launched the entrapment operation in Makati City following complaints against the suspects.
The official said that their Southern Metro Manila District Field Unit, headed by Lt. Col. Mark Jason Gatdula, investigated the complaint that certain employees of EGY Company, a third party accredited by East West Bank, were victimizing people who have availed of the bank’s car loan scheme.
“We found out that the suspects would approach persons who have availed of the East West Bank’s car financing scheme and would threaten to pull out their vehicles for supposed payment delinquency forcibly,” said Silvio.
“They will later ask their targets to sign a waiver of surrender and a Special Power of Attorney to allow the direct sale of their units despite being able to pay their car loan already,” continued Silvio.
Last Friday, members of the CIDG-NCR Southern MMDFU, led by Lt. Col. Gatdula, with the assistance of operatives from the Southern Police District Mobile Force Battalion, conducted the entrapment operation at the parking lot of the Grand Valero Sites in Salcedo Village in Barangay Bel-Air in Makati City.
The suspects were arrested after their deal with an undercover officer was consummated and were all identified as “skip-tracer” or “repossessors” of the 3rd party accredited by East West Bank.
During the investigation at the Southern MMDFU headquarters, the trio failed to present any letter from the bank and an “Order for Writ of Replevin” from the Court, giving them the authority to pull out the vehicles of their targets.
“It was proof that they are acting on their own volition to extort money from their victims,” said Silvio.
The arrested suspects are now facing criminal charges for robbery-extortion.
