The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has recovered and impounded eight vehicles allegedly tied to various illegal schemes during a series of anti-carnapping and intelligence-driven operations conducted across several provinces nationwide.
Authorities said the operations, carried out on May 6, uncovered vehicles allegedly involved in “rent-tangay,” “talon-casa,” “pasalo-benta,” unauthorized financing transactions, and hold-order violations.
One of the recovered vehicles was a Mitsubishi Montero Sport found at the Regional Highway Patrol Unit 11 headquarters in Davao City after records showed it was under a nationwide hold order involving a failed-to-return case first reported in Cavite in 2018.
In Tagum, Davao del Norte, police also recovered a Mitsubishi Mirage sedan linked to another failed-to-return arrangement following intelligence monitoring and verification operations.
Meanwhile, in Binmaley, Pangasinan, authorities impounded a Toyota Fortuner after it was flagged for using an improvised plate number. Investigators later found that the vehicle had allegedly been used as collateral in an unsettled auto parts transaction worth P700,000.
In Angeles City, police recovered a Mitsubishi Xpander reportedly connected to a “talon-casa” scheme after discovering unpaid financial obligations amounting to nearly P930,000 with a financing company.
A separate operation along the Maharlika Highway in San Ricardo led to the recovery of another Mitsubishi Mirage sedan allegedly involved in a “rent-tangay” case. Authorities tracked the vehicle using GPS information provided by the complainant.
In Pili, police impounded a Hyundai Tucson allegedly linked to a “pasalo-benta” scheme. Investigators said the vehicle remained mortgaged with a financing institution and had reportedly been pawned without the registered owner’s consent.
Authorities in Bulacan also recovered two Toyota Vios units in separate operations involving alleged “talon-casa-sangla” and “talon-casa-benta” schemes.
Another vehicle, a Toyota Veloz, was recovered in San Pascual after investigators traced it through GPS tracking in connection with a “rent-sangla” complaint.
All recovered vehicles are now under police custody for documentation, verification, macro-etching examination, and further investigation.
PNP-HPG Acting Director Rommel Batangan said the operations highlight the group’s continuing efforts to combat unlawful motor vehicle transactions and emerging fraud schemes across the country.
Batangan also urged the public to carefully verify ownership records, financing documents, and vehicle authenticity before entering into transactions to avoid becoming victims of scams.
The PNP-HPG encouraged the public to immediately report suspicious vehicle activities and irregular financing arrangements to authorities.