BULACAN – A total of 17 rental vehicles which were pawned to unsuspecting people by a suspected member of a notorious “Rent-Sangla” syndicate were recovered by agents of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) in a series of anti-carnapping operations last week in Bulacan, the Journal Group learned on Monday.

Three of the vehicles involved in the “Rent-Sangla” scam were voluntarily surrendered to the Bulacan Highway Patrol Team last Thursday by Luis Miguel Flores, a resident of Poblacion, Calumpit, Bulacan, said PNP-HPG Director Brigadier General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil.

The vehicles include an alpine white Nissan NV350 Urvan registered under the name of “Krisia Reyes” of Project 6, Quezon City; a gray metallic Mitsubishi Xpander with LTO conduction sticker registered under the name of “Catherin Gonzales” of Bernardino Street in Valenzuela City; and a black Toyota Innova with conduction sticker registered under the name of one “Runeee Vista” of Dela Costa Street in Salcedo Village in Makati City.

The official said that they have learned that the three motor vehicles were pawned to Flores by a certain “Jhovelyn Viceo”, a resident of Bgy. Caingin in San Rafael municipality has already been arrested and is now facing a string of criminal charges.

Marbil reported to the new PNP chief, Lt. Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., that members of the Bulacan PHPT, headed by Maj. Michael M. Villar conducted the major operation against the “Rent-Sangla” syndicate in the province.

Azurin Jr. was a former chief of the PNP-HPG Task Force Limbas.

Marbil said he has ordered the full investigation of the personalities involved in the fraudulent scheme, one of them identified as Viceo.

The BPHPT will be preparing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New-Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 and violation of the Revised Penal Code against the accused.

According to the official, members of the BPHPT last Tuesday apprehended the suspect (Viceo) during an operation that led to the recovery of a Mitsubishi Montero Sport SUV.

Villar said that the suspect rented all the recovered motor vehicles from their registered owners before pawning them for different amounts to the persons who surrendered the vehicles.

“Upon knowing the status of all the motor vehicles pawned to them, the victims/possessors decided to voluntarily surrender the vehicles to our officer for proper disposition,” Maj. Villar said.

Marbil said that BPHPT investigators discovered that the accused had pawned several motor vehicles to at least six residents of different Bulacan municipalities, prompting follow-up operations early morning Thursday.

“The six voluntarily surrendered the motor vehicles pawned to them by [the suspect] after being told of the consequences of their transactions. Actually, all the recovered motor vehicles were not included in our list of wanted stolen motor vehicles although they were all involved in the so-called ‘Rent-Sangla’ scheme,” the PNP-HPG director said.

One of the vehicles: a brown metallic Mitsubishi Montero Sport, was found to be originally registered to one “Lalaine Tolentino” of Maligaya Village in San Fernando City, Pampanga, although it was already under the possession of “Joshua”, of Balubaran St. in Capihan, San Rafael, Bulacan.

The 2nd: a black Toyota Hi-Lux pickup truck was originally registered under the name of one “Maricar Villegas” of Salcedo Village, Makati City but was already pawned to “Michael”, of Tangos Camella in Baliwag town.

The 3rd: a dark gray Mitsubishi Expander with the conduction sticker intact was originally registered under the name of “Cirilo Iñigo Jr.” of Bambi St. in Tanda Subdivision, Valenzuela City. However, it was found under the possession of “Michael” too.

The 4th: a maroon Toyota Vios whose registered owner is still being verified, was also found in possession of “Michael” who also yielded the 5th vehicle: a black Toyota Veluz registered under a certain “TFSPH” and leased to one “Kayser”, of Makati City.

An aluminum jade Toyota Vios registered under the same “TFSPH” company and leased to one “Marvy Rose Lizardo” of Salcedo Village in Makati City was found in possession of “Earl”, of Bagong Nayon in Baliuag.

The seventh vehicle, a red Toyota Innova whose registered owner is still being determined, was found in possession of one “Raid Almazar” of Mabini Street in Sabang, Baliuag. Another: a red mica Toyota Innova whose registered owners are still undetermined was also found in possession of Almazar.

A Mitsubishi Expander was found in possession of one “Precious Mangahas” of Camella Pagala in Baliuag.

A silver Mitsubishi Mirage was in possession of Mangahas, too, in Baliuag.

Another gray Mitsubishi Expander was also found under the possession of Almazar, who also turned over a white Chevrolet Trailblazer to the Bulacan PHPT, including a silver metallic Toyota Vios registered under the name of one “Angelica Borja” of Bgy. Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, was also found under the possession of Almazar.

The 11th: a white pearl Mitsubishi Xpander registered under the name of one “Reychell Ronduen” of Kaligayahan, Quezon City, was found in possession of “Edwin Santos” of Casimero Northville in Baliuag.