A Kapampangan married couple sought for running a large-scale scam in Pampanga were arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) during a raid operation on August 6 in Sablan, Benguet for illegally operating and practicing dentistry.
Jun Jun Banal and his wife, Catherine, of Param Car Rental Services, are now detained in Tuba, Benguet for charges under Republic Act 9484, also known as the Philippine Dental Act of 2007.
Authorities also seized various dental equipment from their three-storey residence in Baguio, which housed their illegal clinic.
The local chapter of the Philippine Dental Association had previously suspected the couple of practicing dentistry without valid licenses, according to the CIDG press release. “Their web of deceit prompted action from multiple law enforcement agencies. They evaded capture by changing their names and relocating to Sablan,” the press release stated.
Following their initial arrest, further investigation by the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG), in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, uncovered that the couple is also involved in a large-scale car rental scam.
The Banals have outstanding arrest warrants since October 2023 for serious offenses, including large-scale swindling, carnapping, and 149 counts of estafa filed against them in the Angeles City Regional Trial Court and Mabalacat City Municipal Trial Court.
Based on media reports, Police Major Joseph Tayaban, investigation chief of the HPG Cordillera Administrative Region, said the Banal couple “conspired and collaborated” to falsely represent Param Car Rental as a legitimate investment company before fleeing to Sablan.
Tayaban said the Banal couple were able to collect approximately P300 million through their scheme by offering a 10% monthly interest rate.
“Suspects used and advertised a company name, Param Car Rentals, by conspiracy and mutually aiding one another in fraudulent representations and false manifestation that they were a legitimate investment company, offering 10% interest monthly. They collected more or less P300 million from several victims then went into hiding in Sablan, Benguet to evade from their complainants and to the authorities,” Tayaban said.
Being residents of Mabalacat City, the Banal couple also tried running as barangay officials in Barangay Sapang Biabas. However, their warrants of arrest were issued a week before the elections in October 2023.