THE suspected architect of the so-called “rent-sangla” scam that victimized on hundreds of car owners in Central and Southern Luzon on Monday denied the criminal charges filed against her before the Department of Justice.
Appearing before the investigating DoJ panel headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag, Rafaela Anunciacion asked for the dismissal of the complaint for swindling and syndicated estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code and Presidential Decree 1689.
Anunciacion claimed that the complainants were only forced to file their criminal charges against her by the police through a threat that they would no longer recover their vehicles but when the car owners recovered their vehicles, they withdrew their charges against her.
Another respondent, Anastacia Cauyan also submitted her counter-affidavit and raised the same defense.
The DoJ panel set another hearing on Friday, March 31, for filing of answers of the other respondents—Tychicus Nambia, Sabina Torrea, Eliseo Cortez, Eleanor Constatino, Marilou Cruz, Jhennelyn Berroya, Ana Borlon and Lea Rosales.