Authorities apprehended two suspects linked to the "rent-tangay" scheme and discovered several chopped vehicles inside a compound in Antipolo City on Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) identified the suspects as “Bads,” 28, and “Josh,” 20. They were arrested after a car owner reported that his rented vehicle was not returned by the suspects.
Authorities said that the suspects and the victim met at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Sunday, Jan. 12, where the suspects rented the vehicle for a day, claiming it would be used for a wedding in Batangas province.
The suspects only presented a driver’s license, and an agreement was made to return the vehicle by 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13. However, the vehicle was not returned, and the victim was unable to contact the suspects.
Through a Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in the vehicle, the victim tracked the vehicle's location and sought assistance from the Rizal Provincial Highway Patrol Team (Lead Unit) and Antipolo Component City Police Station.
The authorities immediately conducted an operation and went to the vehicle's location in Barangay San Jose, where the victim positively identified their stolen van, which had already been disassembled in the area.
Aside from the victim’s disassembled vehicle, police also recovered several chopped vehicles inside the compound.
The suspects were arrested aboard an L300 van after being caught loading chopped vehicle parts into it. Multiple keys matching the compound gates were also recovered from them.
Police added that other suspects involved in the scheme are being hunted down.
The suspects are currently detained at the Antipolo Component City Police Station Custodial Facility and will face charges for violating Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016.