DOJ sets first hearing on 'rentangay' probe

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will begin on March 20 its preliminary investigation on the complaints filed against the suspects of the so-called "rentangay" or car rental scam.

Set to be heard by the 10-man task force composed of state prosecutors are the complaints for large scale estafa filed by 25 complainants through the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group.

Named respondents to the complaints were Rafaela Anunciacion, Eleanor "Leah" Constantino Rosales, Tychicus Historillo Nambio, Jhennelyn Berroya, Anastacia Montes Cauyan, Eliseo Cortez, Marilou Cruz and Sabina Torrea.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had already placed Anunciacion, Rosales, Nambio and a certain Ana Pamplona Borlon under the immigration lookout bulletin so as to monitor any attempt on their part to leave the country. 

Anunciacion and Nambio are now under police custody.

The syndicate allegedly carried out the scheme by giving "fraudulent promises" of rental income only to find out later that their vehicles were either mortgaged or sold to different people without their knowledge and consent. 

Apart from the police, the National Bureau of Investigation is also looking into the car rental scam which is said to have victimized hundreds of vehicle owners. —ALG, GMA News