4 cops arrested for kidnapping
FOUR policemen, including a major, were arrested on Monday for the kidnapping of a Malaysian and three Chinese tourists in Manila a day earlier.
Maj. Christel Carlo Villanueva, an intelligence officer at the Pasay City police station; Senior Master Sgt. Angelito David, of the Makati City police station; Master Sgt. Ricky Tabora and Staff Sgt. Ralph Tumangil, both detailed with the National Capital Region Police Office, were presented to media in Camp Came yesterday by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr and PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.
The victims, who were also presented to media, were Yang Zhuan, 31; Meng Zhao, 29; Zhi Yi Zuan, 32; all Chinese; and Tang Heng Fei, 25, a Malaysia.
Abalos said the four victims were aboard a Lexus car travelling along Taft Avenue in Pasay City at around 12:20 a.m. last Sunday when they were intercepted by the suspects and their cohorts.
The suspects used a PNP motorcycle which blocked the path of the victim’s vehicle, and a civilian van with blinkers.
Police said the victims were mauled, handcuffed and then forcibly taken to the suspects’ van.
“They abducted the four individuals but two of the foreigners (Yang and Meng) managed to escape and sought help from barangay officials,” said Abalos.
The two other victims (Zi and Tang), both injured, were released after payment of P2.5 million in ransom, he also said.
The suspects were identified through back tracking of close circuit television (CCTV) footage, police said.
NCRPO spokesperson Lt. Col. Eunice Salas said the four suspects were asked to report to the Pasay City police station later last Sunday after their involvement in the kidnapping was established and were subsequently placed under arrest.
The four were charged with kidnapping with ransom, robbery and carnapping before the Pasay City prosecutor’s office last Monday.
Also charged were Marion Quiambo Badando, Roderick Valbuena, an alias Mon, alias Ramon, alias Bryan, alias Spider and four John Does, who are all at large.
“I was surprised because policemen were involved. This incident is a serious breach of public trust and core values of the police force. The PNP will not tolerate any misconduct within their
