Pubdate: Tue, 06 Sep 2005 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Author: Jonathan Vicente Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Philippines COP, PAL ARRESTED FOR KIDNAP OF WEALTHY CHINESE TRADER The Manila Police District Monday announced the arrest of a police antinarcotics agent and a companion in relation to the kidnapping of a wealthy Chinese Filipino businessman last month in Manila. The suspects were identified at a press conference at the office of Mayor Lito Atienza as PO2 Jeffrey de Guzman, 32, assigned at the MPD Anti-Illegal Drugs Division, and Aureho Pavo Jr., 28, tricycle driver, of J. Trinidad corner Limay Streets, Tondo, Manila. Chief Supt. Pedro Bulaong, MPD director, said the two suspects were arrested for the abduction of John Yang Chua, who bears Chinese name Di Jin Huang, 35, of Santa Mesa Heights, Quezon City. Bulaong said the police district is also tracking down other suspected members of the kidnap gang identified as PO2 Clifford de Guzman of the Quezon City Police District and Insp. Marijon Perez, assigned at Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna. Chua was kidnapped on August 2, 2005, while driving a white L-300 van on Jose Abad Santos Avenue in Manila. Reports said the four suspects, onboard a Delica van bearing a TMG commemorative plate, blocked the path of Chua at about 9 a.m. and forced him out of his vehicle at gunpoint. The suspects reportedly divested the victim of his cell phone, P2,900 cash, ATM card and a bank check.They commandeered his van and drove toward Caloocan City. The suspects allegedly planted a sachet of shabu on his person and accused him of drug trafficking. They blindfolded Chua and ordered him to call up his relatives and tell them to pay P100,000 for his release, according to the police report. The victim's relatives allegedly negotiated for the reduction of the ransom to P50,000, which they were told to deliver at a fast-food chain outlet in Banawe, Quezon City, on August 6. Chua was released near the Chinese General Hospital at the North Cemetery at around 5 p.m. following the payoff. Atienza said Pavo and de Guzman were arrested in an MPD raid after the police identified some of the suspects as members of the Philippine National Police. Chua's van was recovered from a certain Reiman Talaga, of Luskot Street, Don Manuel, Quezon City Talaga claimed he was not involved in the kidnapping, saying he bought the van from the suspects. The Manila Police District filed charges of kidnapping, robbery and carjacking against the suspects before the Manila Prosecutor's Office. - ---