Businesswoman, 7 others charged over ‘rent-sangla’ scam

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted a businesswoman and seven others tagged in the “rent-sangla” scheme that victimized several car owners.

Rafaela Anunciacion and her alleged cohorts Marilou Cruz, Edgardo Ramos, Alfredo Ronquillo, Eliseo Cortez, Anastacia Cauyan, Sabina Torrea and Leonardo Torrea were charged with 14 counts of syndicated estafa.

No bail was recommended for their temporary freedom.

Investigating prosecutors found probable cause in the complaints filed against the respondents by two sets of victims.

The DOJ cited the existence of deceit as the respondents enticed the complainants into believing that they were engaged in a legitimate car rental business.

“Evidence showed that the complainants were given the impression that Anunciacion and her associates were engaged in a rent-a-car business when in fact, no such kind of business has been registered under their names with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry or the Business Permits and Licensing Office in San Pedro City, Laguna,” read the DOJ resolution issued on March 16 but released to media only yesterday.

Acting Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said the respondents failed to deliver the promised rent only to discover that the complainants’ cars were mortgaged to different individuals without their knowledge.

The DOJ found that Anunciacion’s company, Creative Tempo, was merely used by the respondents as a front for their scheme.

“The respondents not only presented a fictitious car rental business but also concealed their lack of sufficient assets or paid-up capital to comply with their supposed guaranteed returns for the investments,” the DOJ stressed.

The complaints were filed by 14 victims of the scam: Benjamin Cruz, Juvie Sanguyo, Gilbert Valonda, Gina Luciano, Liberty Valmadrid, Alberto Santos, Jefferson Aquino, Meruel Tibayan, Lilian Arnaldo, Teresita Mendoza, Glen Guyuram, Ronnie Sosa, Penny Fabro and Ernesto Caguilla. 

They said the respondents enticed them to enter into a rent-a-car business in exchange for rental fees of P20,000 to P50,000 per month.

While the DOJ indicted the respondents for estafa, it dismissed the charges of car theft for lack of probable cause.

The charges against the other respondents – Ramon Anunciacion, Vladimir Cauyan, Carlo Anunciacion, Erico Cruz and Bienvenido Cruz – were also dismissed for lack of evidence.

Under the “rent-sangla” scheme, authorities said the suspects would convince car owners to become their business associates and have their cars rented for a hefty profit.