DOJ orders issuance of ILBO vs 3 suspects in car rental scam

The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the Bureau of Immigration to issue an immigration look-out bulletin order (ILBO) against three suspects in the ‘rent-tangay’ modus operandi which has victimized car owners from different parts of the country. (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA—The Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered the Bureau of Immigration to issue an immigration look-out bulletin order (ILBO) against three suspects in the ‘rent-tangay’ modus operandi which has victimized car owners from different parts of the country.

In a memorandum, DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ordered BI Commissioner Jaime Morente to put the suspects Ana Pamplona Borlon, Lea Constantino Rosales and Rafaela M. Anunciacion under an ILBO.

Under the ILBO, all Immigration Officers are mandated to immediately coordinate with the Office of the Secretary of the DOJ any attempt on the part of the aforementioned persons to leave the country.

“I enjoin all our Immigration Officers and everyone concerned to strictly discharge their duties. This Rent Tangay scam has victimized a lot of persons, let us bring those responsible to our courts so that justice will be served,” Aguirre said.

He instructed BI to coordinate with National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Dante Gierran for the information about the people subject of the ILBO. These information include known aliases, date and place of birth, copy of passport and latest photo.

Aguirre also required contact numbers from the NBI and the Office of the Prosecutor that can be called even beyond office hours in case the subject of the ILBO attempts to leave the country.

“Take all other appropriate actions including, but not limited to, coordinating with other concerned offices and agencies and even airlines, especially since international passengers are customarily required to check-in within a specified number of hours before the flight,” said Aguirre in his memorandum.

A person subject of an ILBO can still leave the country upon clearance from the DOJ.

Aguirre warned that any attempt to violate the ILBO will be held liable.

He ordered the government prosecuting arm to immediately file a case in court and obtain an arrest warrant “if it should be found that there is probable cause to criminally charge the respondents.”

Earlier, Aguirre ordered the NBI to investigate and spearhead the filing of cases against the perpetrators of the car rental scam.

”I immediately ordered the NBI to take action. I have given the NBI 15 days to submit a status report on this case,” he added.

Aguirre already met the representatives of the victims, and upon seeing the magnitude of this scam, there are around 500 people who fell as victims to the scheme.”Rentangay” is a modus where suspects pose as renters of private vehicles and pay an agreed amount of monthly rent. The suspect will then pawn the rented vehicle to another person.

In their modus operandi, the suspects would allegedly victimize car owners from different parts of greater Metro Manila area and Luzon. While some of the cars were recovered as far as Mindanao provinces such as Marawi and Tawi-Tawi.

Lawyer Ariel E. Inton, Jr., counsel of complainants and former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member, said that they already filed a complaint and also sought for an Immigration lookout bulletin (ILBO) against one of the three suspected swindlers identified as Tychicus Historillo Nambio.

Aguirre response to the request of the victims as he signed ILBO against Nambio because he might flee from the country.

Nambio is detained in Binan, Laguna for estafa.