The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) on Wednesday said three suspects were arrested over alleged “talon casa” scheme in Pasay City and Mandaluyong City on Tuesday evening.
In a press briefing, Police Lieutenant Nadame Malang identified the suspects as the fake seller, the financier, and the accomplice.
“Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, nagkaroon po ng isang entrapment operation sa mga nabanggit natin wherein two talon casa na sasakyan po ay binibenta po sa napakababang halaga through a social platform,” Malang said.
(There was an entrapment operation among those we mentioned wherein two talon casa vehicles were being sold at very low prices through a social platform.)
The initial operation was conducted in Mandaluyong CIty where two suspects were nabbed. Also seized were two vehicles and an unlicensed .22 caliber revolver.
“After ng operation po doon, naibigay din po sa atin ang impormasyon na meron pang tatlo pang tinatago itong dalawang suspek sa isang garahe po sa Mandaluyong City at doon po natin nakita,” Malang said.
(After the operation there, we obtained information there were three more vehicles of these two suspects being hidden in a garage in Mandaluyong City and that’s where we found them.)
According to Malang, the suspects were selling the vehicles stolen via talon casa for only P120,000 to P200,000.
Talon casa involves motor vehicles being sold online under false ownership using falsified or incomplete documents. Victims believe these are legitimate repossessed units being sold at low prices.
“Kapag sinabi nating talon sa casa, ito ay may mga monthly dues or yung mga kinuha po ng ating mga kababayan sa any financing companies,” he said.
(When we say talon sa casa, it means vehicles with monthly dues or those acquired through financing companies.)
“At kapag hindi na nila kayang bayaran ang kanila mga monthly dues, that’s the time na maaaring makitalon o makuha na nila o nakawin na nila mismo sa mismong financing company para ibenta naman sa ibang tao,” he added.
(And when they can no longer pay their monthly dues, that’s the time when they can be caught or taken or stolen from the financing company itself to sell to other people.)
The confiscated vehicles from the suspects were:
- Hyundai Stargazer
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- Nissan Terra 2.5 VE
- Mitsubishi Mirage G4
- Toyota Avanza
The suspects will be facing charges for estafa under Revised Penal Code and violations under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, Cybercrime Prevention Act, as well as Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. —RF, GMA Integrated News
