SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Four members of the notorious “Rent-Tangay” carnapping syndicate were nabbed by policemen onboard their stolen vehicle loaded with illegal drugs, a hand grenade, and ammunition in Rosario, La Union, Sunday.
Senior Superintendent Ricardo Layug Jr, La Union police director, identified the suspects as Orlando Hernandez Jr of Sison, Pangasinan but residing in Dasmarinas, Cavite; Albert Hipolito of Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Edwin Trinidad of Lamesa Street, Valenzuela City; and John Paul Tolentino of Talipapa, Q.C.
Police confiscated from Hernandez two identification cards with two other names such as Mark Sigua and Rolando Vallejos.
Layug said the suspects were caught based on a tip provided by one of their victims, a certain Alvin Macalam of Tanza, Cavite) to the Rosario Police Station and at the Highway Patrol Group (HPG).
Macalam told Layug that last July 26, 2018, the suspects rented his Toyota Innova but did not return the car based on a contract he signed with a non-existent car rental business allegedly owned by the scammers. The syndicate operates in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite and nearby provinces.
It was learned that last Friday, Macalam saw the suspects in Manila on board his car and followed them until they reached Rosario town and reported them to the police station.
Layug said their mode of operation of “rent-tangay” ( loosely translated as rent and take away” is their way of taking their choice-car.
Aside from recovering the stolen car, police also confiscated from the suspects’ possession five sachets of dried marijuana leaves; five pieces live bullets of 45 caliber pistol; a hand grenade and assorted fake identification cards.
Police also discovered that Hernandez has a warrant of arrest for carnapping while Hipolito is facing charges of estafa or swindling and falsification of public documents.
Police said the group has been also involved in a series of robbery and carnapping in other places.
The La Union police have sent out information to other possible victims. Some of them already contacted the Rosario police.
Layug said they are now coordinating with HPG for the recovery of other stolen vehicles taken by the suspects.
Suspects are detained at the Rosario municipal jail facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, illegal possession of ammunition and explosives, and carnapping. Jun Elias/NPN-northboundasia.com