Pubdate: Sat, 05 Feb 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Non Alquitran And Christina Mendez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)Cited: 
National Bureau of Invesitgation http://www.nbi.gov.ph/

ANOTHER SORIANO VICTIM SURFACES

A businessman showed up at Camp Crame yesterday, saying he too had
fallen victim to the alleged extortion activities of former National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Martin Soriano.

Allan Sycip, of Mandaluyong City, positively identified Soriano during
a confrontation yesterday at the headquarters of the Police Anti-Crime
Emergency Response (PACER) as the man who took his Honda Civic,
P100,000 cash, handy cam and watch last month.

Soriano and two of his cohorts are now in PACER custody after they
were arrested for abducting businesswoman Caroline Guillen in Quezon
City last month.

Sycip said he was driving his red Honda Civic (CRG 638) on Ayala
Avenue in Makati City last Jan. 28 when Soriano and his group blocked
his path. The group accused him of possession of illegal drugs.

The businessman said Soriano took him to the Citadel Hotel in Makati
City where he saw Guillen.

Sycip said he was ordered by Soriano to go home after leaving behind
his car, cash and valuables.

The businessman decided to surface and file a complaint against
Soriano after recognizing him in the morning papers.

PACER agents recovered Sycip's car and two other vehicles at the
parking lot of the Tiffany Mansions on Annapolis street in Greenhills,
San Juan, where Soriano had been maintaining a "safe house."

Agents under PACER officer-in-charge Director Robert Delfin are now
looking for the owners of a Mercedes Benz with no license plates and a
white Toyota Crown (XPJ 900). The two vehicles may have been used by
Soriano's group in their illegal activities, police said.

Soriano was arrested last Jan. 31 at the parking lot of the Yellow Cab
pizza parlor on Tomas Morato in Quezon City while in the act of
receiving P200,000 in exchange for the release of Guillen.

Also arrested were Soriano's security officer, Ramiro Ganzon, 44, and
his driver, Danny Rendon, 29.

During tactical interrogation, Soriano insisted that the operation
against Guillen was legitimate. He added that seven Manila policemen
were involved in the case.

Police are now investigating the possible involvement of the seven
officers in Soriano's kidnapping and extortion activities.

A composite team from PACER, National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force
(Naktaf) and National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO)
confiscated from Soriano and his cohorts Guillen's green Isuzu
Crosswind (XBW 448) and a beige Toyota Crown (TFN 385) which were used
in the second pay-off.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Edgar Aglipay
vowed to dig deeper into Soriano's activities.

"We should get the others, especially policemen, who are involved in
the case," Aglipay said in his directive to Delfin and Metro police
chief Director Avelino Razon Jr.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes urged other victims of
Soriano to surface as he assured them of full police protection.

During the presentation of Soriano at Camp Crame the other day, former
narcotics agent Mary "Rosebud" Ong surfaced and accused him of
kidnapping her in 1998. 
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