By Martin Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday cautioned the public, especially the car owners, to be vigilant against the evolving carnapping incidents as unscrupulous individuals continue to invent a variety of modus operandi.
(photo courtesy of Pixabay/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, director of PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG), issued this warning with the arrest of two men who were tagged in what was believed to be a new case of "rent-pasalo" (rent-assume balance) modus and the usual "rent-sangla" (rent-pawn) modus.
The arrested suspects were identified as Ryan del Rosario, 36, of Mexico, Pampanga, who was said to be a part of a rent-pasalo modus group operating in Central Luzon; and Joven Aycardo, 37, of Pulilan, Bulacan, allegedly involved in a rent-sangla group operating in Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) and National Capital Region (NCR).
Fajardo explained that rent-pasalo occurs when a suspect dupes a victim to let him/her assume the remaining balance of the latter's loaned car. The suspect will then disappear after paying an initial amount to the victim.
Meanwhile, rent-sangla modus happens when a suspect entices a victim to lend a car in exchange of a certain amount of money. The vehicle will then be pawned to others and the suspect will disappear when the date it is supposed to be returned comes. Most carnapping victims usually fall prey to this kind of modus.
Del Rosario was apprehended on August 6 inside his house in Pampanga by virtue of an arrest order issued by Hon. Christian Emmanuel Pimentel, presiding judge of Branch 69, Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) in Pasig City.
The arrest warrant was filed by Radan Pascual, of Pasig City, one of the six victims of Del Rosario.
On the other hand, Aycardo was nabbed on August 5 in a parking area on Espana Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Hon. Melody Restituto, presiding judge of Branch 113, Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) in Muntinlupa City. Aycardo has at least five victims.
'Rent-pasalo'
In a chance interview, Pascual said he first knew Del Rosario when the suspect inquired to him on February 27, 2017 to assume the balance of his brand new Mistubishi Adventure GLS Sport.
Pascual said Del Rosario introduced himself as a contractor of a British company in Angeles, Pampanga "with means to buy the vehicle and assume its balance."
The two eventually met on March 5, 2018 in Pasig City where the victim asked the suspect to produce P135,000 as cashout payment for the vehicle, three post-dated checks amounting to P19,607 each as payment for monthly amortization which was due from April to June 2018; and various IDs.
However, Pascual later discovered a discrepancy where the amount written in words in the check did not match with the amount written in figures. Pascual contacted Del Rosario but he could no longer be reached through the phone number he gave. The bank where the vehicle was mortgaged eventually reminded Pascual to pay the remaining balance and he had no choice but to do so, thus, he realized he was duped by Del Rosario.
"Usually, car owners are being victimized by this modus because they want to buy a new car or it is difficult for them to sustain the monthly payment of the loaned car," HPG Director Fajardo said.
'Rent-Sangla'
Meanwhile, the HPG said Aycardo rented at least six motor vehicles from five individuals which he all pawned to a casino institution wihtout the concent of the victims.
Michael Ramoso, one of the victims of rent-sangla modus, said in a chance interview that he first met Aycardo on July 8, 2018. Ramos said he has long been allowing his Toyota Vios to be rented for different purposes.
"Joven texted me and said he would rent my car for three days. With his sweet-talking, I agreed to lend him my Vios for P1,700 per day," Ramoso said.
After three days, Ramoso texted Aycardo to return the car but the latter replied using a different number.
"He was asking for an extension but I refused because I already had a hunch since he used a different number. I told him to return to me my car. Since then, I have never contacted him again," Ramoso said.
'Come forward'
With the arrest of the two suspects, Fajardo urged their other victims to come forward and file a complaint to solidify and upgrade their charges.
"The problem is that they were only filed with estafa cases because there is consent from the victims. We cannot file carnapping," Fajardo said.
Estafa is a bailable case with a penalty of P18,000, according to the HPG chief.
He said at least two victims from each of the two modus must come out and file a complaint against the suspects to upgrade their charges to syndicated estafa, which is a non-bailable offense.
The two suspects were brought to the PNP-HPG headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.