CONTINUING operations against personalities involved in so-called technical carnapping or ‘Rent-Tangay’ scheme by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) resulted in the arrest of six suspects and the recovery of three suspected stolen motor vehicles put up for sale by the accused, PNP-HPG Director, Brig. General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil told the Journal Group yesterday.

According to the official, the suspects were arrested in an entrapment operation at the vicinity of Mall of Asia in Pasay City conducted by members of the HPG Special Operations Division-Task Force Limbas headed by Lieutenant Colonel Joel Manuel A. Ana.

The 5:30 p.m. Sunday sting targeted members of a technical carnapping syndicate led by one ‘Mae/Tomboy’, Brian Geonzon alias ‘Koki’ and Paolo Laguerta after they were monitored to be selling a stolen red Chevrolet Trailblazer for P350,000 only.

Brig. Gen. Marbil said that arrested during the sting were Mark Angelo Abaya, Alexander, MC Benedick Cruzin, John Michael Nuñez, Paolo Laguerta, and Geonzon himself.

The SUV and a silver Ford Escape were recovered during the operation. In the case of the recovered SUV, it turned out to have falsified Land Transportation Office documents and with the illegally-transferred license plate NCY-8407.

The 2nd vehicle with plate no. NIJ-606 had no LTO documents when checked.

The suspects are facing charges for violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Law of 2016, falsification by a private individual, and use of falsified documents under Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code, and illegal transfer of plate before Pasay City Prosecutor Ju-Haree Tolentino.

Brig. Gen. Marbil said that during questioning, the accused claimed they were merely instructed by one ‘Mae/Tomboy’ to arrange the ‘fast-break disposal’ of the two vehicles to one ‘Lorna.’

Last Monday, the official said that SOD-Task Force Limbas operatives conducted a follow-up operation at the parking lot of Puregold in Libertad, Pasay City where they recovered a silver Hyundai Accent with plate no. NDN-5845.

Information provided by the arrested suspects led to the recovery of the 3rd vehicle.

Brig. Gen. Marbil said they have intensified their effort to smash syndicates involved in technical carnapping or the acquisition and ‘fast-break sale’ of SUVs and sedans illegally acquired thru a number of motor vehicle fraud.

They include the so-called ‘Rent/Tangay, Pasalo/Benta/Bawi, Labas-Casa-Talon, highly-fraudulent loan accommodations using fictitious names and those being pawned in the casino circles.

Once sold, these vehicles will again resurface in the local market with fake LTO papers and illegally-transferred license plates and sold to both witting and unwitting buyers.

Lt. Col. Ana said that their record check showed that Geonzon had been arrested previously by the PNP-HPG for his involvement in carnapping activities.

The suspect’s name was previously listed under the HPG order of battle and was identified as a member of a car theft group under one ‘Villanueva and Que.’

On the other hand, suspect ‘Mae/Tomboy’ also has a record with the PNP-HPG as she has been arrested at least twice for the same offense.

The official identified one of the suspects they are tracking down as a certain ‘Lorna’ whom she said is a known habitue of different casinos in Pampanga and Metro Manila.