Pubdate: Tue, 06 Sep 2005
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.inquirer.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073
Author: Tina G. Santos
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

COP NABBED FOR KIDNAPPING; 2 OTHERS AT LARGE

MANILA POLICE ARRESTED over the weekend two people, including a
colleague, who allegedly kidnapped a Chinese-Filipino businessman last
month.

The suspects, who were presented to Mayor Lito Atienza Monday morning,
were identified as PO2 Jeffrey de Guzman, 32, assigned to the District
Anti-Illegal Drugs Division of the MPD; and Aurelio Pavo Jr., 28, a
tricycle driver from Tondo, Manila.

Two of the suspects' alleged cohorts, De Guzman's brother, P02
Clifford de Guzman, assigned to the Quezon City Police District; and
Police Insp. Marijon Perez, assigned to Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba,
Laguna, remain at large and are the subject of an intense manhunt.

Manila Police District Director Pedro Bulaong said charges of
kidnapping for ransom, robbery and car theft had been filed against
the suspects.

A police report showed that John Y. Chua, 35, of Sta. Mesa Heights,
Quezon City, was driving his white L300 van along Jose Abad Santos
Avenue in the morning of Aug. 6 when the suspects, on board a Delica
van bearing a TMG commemorative plate, blocked the van.

The suspects alighted and shoved the victim at gunpoint inside the
Delica van and sped towards Caloocan City, while another suspect drove
the victim's vehicle. Chua told police that the suspects took his cell
phone, cash, ATM cards and blank checks.

He added that the suspects showed him a plastic sachet containing
methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and accused him of selling drugs.

The victim was then ordered by the suspects to call up his relatives
and ask for P100,000 in exchange for his release. But the victim's
family negotiated and haggled with the suspects to lower the ransom
demand to P50,000, the report added.

Chua was freed near the Chinese General Hospital after a pay-off was
made at a fast-food chain in Quezon City, the same day.

De Guzman and Pavo were arrested following the recovery of the
victim's vehicle from a buyer.

The buyer's curiosity was aroused after he was unable to get the
original documents showing the ownership of the vehicle.
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