Two persons involved in "rent-tangay" (the renting of vehicle but taking it away to sell it) in Iloilo City were already identified through a CCTV footage in the hotel where they were staying. 

The vehicle was sold to a policeman assigned at the Molo Police Station in Iloilo City.

According to Christine Poneles, proprietor of a car rental service, the two persons who claimed to be a dometic couple, rented one of her cars on June 29, 2024. Both parties agreed that the rental would take 24 hours only, but when the vehicle was unreturned past the due date, Poneles got alarmed.

“Parang kinabahan ako kasi parang hind na tama ito (ang nangyari),” Poneles said.

Poneles went to the hotel identified to be where the two suspects were staying. She discovered at the hotel that the suspects presented to her fake identification cards and used fictitious names.

The suspects are allegedly from the National Capital Region.

Poneles learned that the vehicle was already sold, so she reported the incident to the police.

“Ang nakabili allegedly (ay) mag-asawa. Ang husband, isang PNP personnel,” Captain Melchor Tolentino, chief of Police Station 3, said.

Poneles added that the policeman who bought the car may have failed to verify the authenticity of the Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR).

“Ang mga document na sinubmit nila sa buyer parang mga original na OR/CR na kung hindi mo kabisado ang OR/CR, masasabi mong original talaga,” Poneles pointed out.

According to police information, the buyer and his wife sold their own car to purchase the rented car which was offered at P365,000.

“Ang asawa ng pulis, tinawagan namin. Naawa ako sa kanya kasi umiiyak sya dahil ibinenta nila ang kanilang Adventure (sasakyan) at dinagdagan lang ng kanilang savings,” Poneles further said.

The news team tried to reach the policeman for comment as well as the chief of the Molo Police Station, but has not yet received word from them.

The vehicle was already returned to the owner; Poneles sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) in tracking down the suspects.

“We are confirming that the case right now is being handled by the NBI-WVRO (West Visayas Regional Office). In cases like these, if the need arises, we coordinate with our offices in Manila or in other provinces,” Aldrin Mercader, NBI agent on the case, said. 

Mercader advised persons interested in buying cars to exercise due diligence before proceeding with the purchase.

“Sa mga tawo nga nagabakal sang second-hand vehicles, they should exert due diligence. I-verify gid nila ang documents para indi sila ma-scam,” Mercader said. 

The suspects are set to face falsification of public documents, carnapping, and estafa.