Rented car found chopped in Quezon City shop

A vehicle rented out during Holy Week was not returned to its owner and was later found chopped into parts at a repair shop in Barangay Doña Imelda, Quezon City, leading to the arrest of four individuals.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s exclusive report on “24 Oras Weekend,” the car was tracked through a GPS (global positioning system) device installed by the owner, who had rented it out in the hope of augmenting his family’s income.

The victim said he had purchased the vehicle only in December through a loan and had since rented it out occasionally. The Holy Week transaction was only the fourth time the car had been rented—and turned out to be the last.

According to the victim, the agreement was for an overnight rental, with the car to be picked up on the evening of Maundy Thursday and returned by 11 a.m. on Good Friday.

The renter, a woman, had previously leased the vehicle without incident, which made it easier for the owner to trust her.

“Ang sabi niya, i-rent niya lang daw papuntang Bulacan kasi magho-Holy Week doon yung pamilya niya,” he said.

(She said she would just rent it to go to Bulacan because her family would be spending Holy Week there.)

However, about an hour before the agreed return time, the renter stopped responding and eventually blocked him on chat.

Suspecting something was wrong, the owner checked the GPS trackers he had installed in the vehicle. Two of the three devices had already been removed.

“Yung dalawa sir, nagtataka na ako kung bakit hindi na pumapalo ng maayos. Hindi ko na siya gaanong nalolocate. Yun pala natanggal na.”

(As for the two, I was already wondering why they weren’t picking up properly. I could no longer track them well—turns out they had already been removed.)

One device remained active, the car owner said.

“Hanggang sa may natira lang na isa sir na siguro hindi pa nila nakikita. Pumalo ’yun,” he said.

(Until only one was left, which they probably hadn’t found. That one transmitted a signal.)

The signal led authorities not to Bulacan, as earlier claimed, but to a repair shop in Quezon City, where the vehicle was discovered being dismantled.

Four individuals were arrested at the site.

“Alam na na rent-a-car… nahila lang po kami para tumulong magbaklas,” one of the suspects said.

(We knew it was a rental car… we were just called in to help dismantle it.)

When asked if they found it suspicious that a relatively intact vehicle was being dismantled, they admitted having doubts.

Another suspect claimed he was only tasked with delivering car parts.

The suspects said their employer had presented documents claiming ownership of the vehicle, leading them to believe it was not stolen.

Police Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia, Quezon City Police District Station 11 chief, said charges of carnapping will be filed against the renter and the alleged mastermind behind the group operating the so-called “rent-a-chop” scheme. Other suspects remain at large.

“May grupo na ito kasi previously, upon our checking sa mga arrested at at-large suspects, meron na silang mga previous cases sa anti-carnapping,” he said.

(This is already an organized group. Based on our previous checks, the arrested and at-large suspects have prior cases related to anti-carnapping.)

“So yes, we’re thinking na may conspiracy sila—aarila tapos hindi na ibabalik yung sasakyan, diretso na sa chop-chop,” Jopia added.

(So yes, we believe there is a conspiracy—they rent the vehicle, then do not return it and instead bring it straight to be chopped.)

Authorities reminded the public to verify the background of people they transact with and to install multiple GPS trackers on vehicles offered for rent to prevent similar incidents.—MCG, GMA News