PNP-HPG intensifies efforts to recover teachers’ stolen vehicles
THE Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has intensified its effort to fully account for the dozens of vehicles owned by public school teachers to a syndicate engaged in the fraudulent ‘Labas-Casa, Talon’ scheme, officials said on Thursday.
As of Thursday, eight of those vehicles have been recovered by the PNP-HPG in a series of operations in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, the Journal Group learned.
Members of the Alvarado Gang were found to have enticed Pampanga teachers to avail of a car loan that their company supposedly would use to start a Grab business.
In return, the teachers were promised a monthly return of P18,000 to as much as P30,000 as well as a monthly amount to cover the amortization of the mortgaged vehicles.
However, as soon as they have found a victim, the syndicate would sell the teachers’ mortgaged vehicles to other people typically through ‘Assume Balance’ plan without the teacher’s knowledge or approval.
Agents of the HPG Special Operations Division-Task Force Limbas headed by Lieutenant Colonel Joel L. Mendoza, recovered two of the vehicles, both 2022 Toyota Vios (CBE 4387 and NFO 9152) in separate operations in Quezon City.
One of the cars was parked along Barangay Culita last October 15 while the 2nd car was spotted along Quirino Highway in Bgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Q.C. last September 11.
The drivers of the two vehicles are now under investigation while the two recovered vehicles which were found to be included in the HPG Motor Vehicle Information System on ‘alarmed ’stolen motor vehicles’ were impounded at Camp Crame.
The rest were recovered in separate operations outside Metro Manila amid the ongoing investigation into the activities of the Alvarado Syndicated Car Loan Scam Operation, officials said.
Early this month, the Department of Education issued an advisory about the ‘car loan scam,’ which has victimized dozens of public school teachers in Pampanga.
At least 17 teachers have been identified as victims of the scam, who were enticed by members of the syndicate into acquiring brand-new motor vehicles from car dealers with a promise their vehicles will be enrolled in a transport network vehicle service.
