The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group recovered six vehicles and one motorcycle in a series of intensified anti-carnapping operations conducted across Cebu, Quezon City, Davao del Norte, Cagayan, Capiz, and Pangasinan on May 12.
Authorities said the recovered units were allegedly tied to various fraudulent vehicle schemes, including “rent-sangla,” “hulog-boundary,” assume-balance arrangements, and failed-to-return cases.
In Mandaue City, Cebu, joint operatives from the Metro Cebu Highway Patrol Team and RHPU7-Special Operations Team recovered a Toyota Vios after the complainant sought police assistance over the vehicle’s alleged unauthorized subleasing and non-return under a “rent-sangla” scheme.
The vehicle was later voluntarily surrendered during a coordinated meet-up operation.
In Quezon City, personnel from the La Loma Motor Vehicle Clearance Satellite Station recovered an alarmed Ford Ecosport after verification through the HPG Vehicle Information Management System showed it was under a nationwide hold order for a failed-to-return case during the processing of transfer clearance.
Meanwhile, operatives in Tagum City, Davao del Norte recovered a locally alarmed Toyota Wigo after the registered owner reported that the vehicle had not been returned.
Police said the unit was later traced through GPS monitoring and voluntarily surrendered by its possessor.
In Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, authorities recovered a Ford Ranger pickup truck allegedly involved in another failed-to-return scheme after the complainant reported that the vehicle had supposedly been pawned without authorization following financing payment defaults.
Another Toyota Vios linked to an assume-balance scheme was also recovered in Cebu after the possessor voluntarily surrendered the vehicle during a follow-up investigation involving unpaid obligations and non-return of the unit.
In Roxas City, Capiz, the Highway Patrol Group recovered a Mitsubishi Xpander allegedly tied to a “hulog-boundary” scheme after the registered owner reported non-payment and failure to return the vehicle, which had been operating as a transport network vehicle service unit.
Police said the vehicle was later voluntarily turned over after the possessor learned it had already been reported to authorities.
Meanwhile, in Pozorrubio, Pangasinan, authorities recovered a Yamaha Aerox motorcycle that had reportedly been forcibly taken in 2022.
Investigators said a warrant of arrest for carnapping had earlier been issued against the suspect, who was arrested by Pangasinan Highway Patrol personnel on May 1.
All recovered vehicles and the motorcycle are now under the custody of their respective operating units for documentation, verification, further investigation, and proper disposition.
Rommel Batangan emphasized the importance of sustained anti-carnapping operations and public vigilance against fraudulent vehicle transactions.
“Continuous intelligence monitoring, immediate coordination with authorities, and strict verification procedures remain vital in preventing unlawful motor vehicle schemes and ensuring the recovery of vehicles involved in illegal transactions,” Batangan said.
The PNP-HPG urged the public to exercise caution when entering financing, rental, assume-balance, and online vehicle transactions, and to immediately report suspicious activities to authorities.