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)
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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.
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