Man nabbed for ‘rent-sangla, rent-tangay’ scam

The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) arrested an alleged scammer in Makati involved in a 'rent-sangla, rent-tangay' modus, who victimized some of his friends and former schoolmates in southern Luzon.

The suspect, Ronald Punzalan, was arrested on Wednesday night by virtue of a warrant of arrest for estafa and carnapping.

More than 10 complainants also showed up to file additional charges on Thursday at the office of HPG-National Capital Region, where the suspect was detained.

HPG director Police Superintendent Roberto Fajardo estimated that Punzalan was able to stash away around P50 million from the scam.

"So ito 'yung rent-sangla, rent-tangay, halimbawa yung sasakyan mo ipaparenta mo P25,000, kapag nahawakan niya 'yung sasakyan isasangla o ibebenta niya ng P400,000. Eh di kumita na siya and wala na 'yung sasakyan mo," Fajardo explained.

HPG encouraged other car-owners who may have been victimized by Punzalan to come forward and file complaints. Fajardo said the HPG will consolidate these to strengthen the case to syndicated estafa and make it non-bailable.

The HPG also alerted the public to be very careful in purchasing cars with marked down prices that are too good to be true.

"So dapat mag-ingat, lalo na 'yung mga sasakyan na mura, magduda ka kaagad. Double check it with HPG para hindi ka madenggoy," Fajardo said. — Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News