Woman faces estafa over mortgaged rented car in Laoag

A woman is facing an estafa complaint after allegedly failing to return a rented vehicle, refusing to pay the agreed rental fees, and mortgaging the car to another person by falsely claiming it was her own, police said.

The complaint was filed at the Laoag City Police Station at around 8:30 p.m. on 5 August by a 28-year-old resident of Barangay 50, Buttong, Laoag City, against Cristel Jennen Agdigos Espiritu, a resident of Barangay 12, Batac City.

Police investigation showed that the case stemmed from a vehicle rental agreement entered into on July 17 in Barangay 46, Nalbo, Laoag City. The complainant alleged that Espiritu rented a metallic red Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedan with Plate No. IAG 5074 for ₱2,000 per day.

Authorities said the suspect allegedly failed to pay the agreed rental fees and did not return the vehicle despite repeated demands from its owner. The complainant also alleged that Espiritu later admitted to having mortgaged the vehicle.

Using the vehicle's Global Positioning System (GPS), the owner traced the car to Barangay Barbaqueso in Carasi, Ilocos Norte.

Personnel from the Laoag City Police Station, accompanied by the complainant, coordinated with the Carasi Municipal Police Station before proceeding to the area to verify the vehicle's location.

Police said their investigation showed that the vehicle had allegedly been mortgaged to Vincent Acantilado, a resident of Barangay 1, Badoc, Ilocos Norte. Acantilado reportedly told investigators that Espiritu represented the vehicle as her own, prompting him to accept it as collateral.

The vehicle was later brought to Carasi, where Acantilado entrusted it to his co-worker, Ranjay Gudayan Torribio, 34, a married resident of Barangay Barbaqueso.

Authorities later recovered the vehicle, which is now under the custody of the Laoag City Police Station pending the filing of the appropriate criminal charges against the suspect.

Police said the case remains under investigation. The filing of a complaint does not constitute proof of guilt, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.