PNP-HPG asks bank managers to probe credit probers in multiple car loans approval

The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has asked the Bank Security Managers Association of the Philippines (BSMA) to investigate the alleged “culpability” of bank credit investigators in the approval of multiple car loans. (Photo: Zelda Richardson/Flickr)

MANILA—The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has asked the Bank Security Managers Association of the Philippines (BSMA) to investigate the alleged “culpability” of bank credit investigators in the approval of multiple car loans.

The HPG made the request in the wake of reports that a “rent-sangla” syndicate allegedly used such bank investigators and other bank personnel in the approval of multiple car loans to financially incapable mortgagors lured by the syndicate.

The HPG has already filed cases for syndicated and large-scale estafa before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against the group of Rafaella Anunciacion and four others.

The other suspects were identified as Anastacia Cauyan, Eleonor Constantino Rosales, Tychicus Historillo Nambio and Jhennelyn Berroya.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has already issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (BLO) against the respondents based on the HPG’s letter-request to DOJ Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Due to the coordination made by the HPG to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and DOJ, a Joint Task Force “Rent-Sangla” is currently being organized considering the magnitude and complexity of the crime used by the syndicate and the number of victims and vehicles involved.

The syndicate was allegedly involved in the “rent-sangla” scam involving some 1,800 vehicles, 604 of which, have been recovered by the HPG.

Out of the 604 recovered vehicles, the HPG has already released some 264 vehicles to their lawful owners and the rest are still under the custody of the respective regional units where they were recovered.

The recoveries are expected to increase as the possessors are voluntarily surrendering motor vehicles pawned to them.

”We have already requested the BSMA to investigate the ‘culpability’ of Bank Credit Investigators and other bank personnel used by the syndicate in the approval of Multiple Car Loans to Financially Incapable Mortgagors enticed by the Syndicate,” said HPG spokesman Senior Insp. Jem Delantes in a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday.

Likewise, the HPG is also recommending for a parallel probe on the practice of simulated ‘lease’ of motor vehicles (MVs) to actual mortgagors.

”We are also recommending that a parallel investigation be done by the Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Unit, CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) on the practice of Dealer’s In-House Financing of simulated ‘lease’ of MVs to actual Mortgagors to determine the degree of participation in the commission of the crime,” Delantes said.

At the same time, the HPG also called the attention of Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) on the possible connivance of motor vehicle dealers and sales executives with the syndicate in the commission of the crime.

”While we are assisting lawful clamant for the released of their vehicles, MVs subject to an existing case filed in court with third party claimant will be released only upon orders of the court,” Delantes said.

He stressed that policemen are not involved in the rent-sangla syndicate, but rather, they are also victims themselves.