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hopeless_race : Sana itreat naman po ng media ang hacienda luisita at mendiola massacre na parang MAGUINADANAO MASSACRE. Ipublicized ang mga katotohanan at ipakita sa tao ang karumaldumal na pinaggagawa sa mga farmers dun. Untouchable po ba sila cory at danding at hindi magawang batikusin ng media about these two massacres?
hopeless_race : Kapag napaguusapan ang mendiola at hacienda luisita massacre ay parang walang nangyari at parang hindi big deal. Anu po ba ang pinagkaiba ng dalawang nabanggit na massacre sa maguindanao massacre?
hopeless_race : Its sad that we pinoys are blind to the fact of what had happened in mendiola and hacienda luisita. Ang tanong..bakit ang media ay hindi manlang matackle ang ganitong usapin? Takot ba sila kay cory at danding?
hopeless_race : Wilkins" brand, for P1.4 billion.-1999 Sugarland Multi-Food Corp. for P2.9 billion 2001- Purefoods Corp P7 billion P60 billion Coca-Cola ... See More 2002- Cosmos Bottling Corp. from RFM Corp. for P14.1 billion October 2008- GSIS' shares in Meralco worth PHP30 Billion. December 2008- country's biggest oil refiner, Petron Corporation. international company shopping spree: Australian boutique brewer J. Boag and Son for A$96 million in 2000. $97 million for Thai Amarit Brewery Ltd $35.5 mi
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Kidnap incidents up in 2005 — anti-crime NGOs

Posted by: Yvonne Chua | January 3, 2006 at 7:18 pm
Filed under: General

ANTI-CRIME groups have recorded 63 kidnapping cases in the year just ended, or 37 percent more than the 46 reported in 2004 when kidnapping was at an all-time low.

Ransom paid to kidnappers last year totaled P54.1 million, up from the P41.39 million paid in 2004, according to the yearend report of the Citizens Action Against Crime (CAAC) and the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO) published in the fortnightly Tsinoy digest Tulay.

The CAAC and MRPO report did not cite any reason for the upsurge in kidnapping incidents. But the two NGOs had earlier said kidnappers appeared to have taken advantage of the political turmoil, especially as Metro Manila’s police force partially shifted its attention from anti-crime activities to securing Malacañang and maintaining order during anti-Arroyo demonstrations.

The number of cases in 2005, however, is still the second lowest recorded by the CAAC and MRPO in the 12 years they have been conducting “Kidnap Watch.”

The anti-crime groups identified other bright spots in the anti-kidnapping campaign. Many key players, including police officers, in kidnap-for-ransom activities were neutralized in 2005.

Among those arrested and charged were former actor and Quezon City representative Dennis Roldan and his cohorts, Suzette Wang, Noel Andres, Rowena Andres, Romeo Orcajada, Octobio Garces and Adrian Domingo for the Feb. 9 kidnapping of 3-year-old Kenshi Yu in Pasig City.

The courts also decided seven kidnapping cases, imposing the death sentence on most of the accused. But no kidnapper in death row has yet been put to death after the Arroyo administration suspended the implementation of capital punishment.

So far, the biggest blow suffered by the anti-kidnapping campaign was the acquittal in late December of former Air Force major Ismael Orbegoso by Cavite Judge Eduardo Israel Tanguanco, for the kidnapping and robbery of Karen Hsieh in April 1999. Police had positively identified Orbegoso as among those who had picked up the ransom payment.

CAAC-MRPO’s kidnap statistics from 1993 to 2005:

Year	Incidents	Victims	Ransom Paid (in pesos)
2005	63	82	54.10M
2004	46	70	41.39M
2003	127	188	194.74M
2002	134	209	103.72M
2001	116	237	211.09M
2000	79	219	261.97M
1999	76	135	14.78M
1998	110	188	119.98M
1997	152	249	306.42M
1996	147	241	109.92M
1995	119	199	111.92M
1994	127	288	98.54M
1993	107	179	69.11M

Neutralized

Last year, police arrested or killed several most wanted kidnapers, with bounties ranging from half a million to a million pesos.

Topping the list were members of the notorious Ilonggo Waray-Waray kidnap for ransom group—the Superables, Cesar Amado and the Cornistas—tagged in at least 20 kidnap-for-ransom cases. Renato Superable was responsible for the two fatal gunshots that caused the death of Coca-Cola Executive Betti Chua-Sy in November 2003.

• Police arrested Nov. 23 Cesar Amado, the 20th suspect in the kidnap-slaying of Betti Chua-Sy, whose body was found wrapped in a plastic garbage bag on Diosdado Macapagal Ave. in Parañaque on Nov. 17, 2003. Amado was also linked to the abduction of Victor Castañeda, Dr. Patrick Padilla, Dr. Margaret Dy, San Ik Jiang, Alfredo Chan, Franklin Ongsito, Jose Naga, all in 2003; and Antonio Tan, Imelda Bengson, Augusto Tony Manikis and Dr. Susan Nodado, in 2002.

• Aljon Martinez, the country’s 7th most wanted criminal who had a P500,000 bounty on his head, was killed Nov. 9 in an encounter with police in Las Piñas City.

• Police arrested Sept. 23 Hector Cornista, Domingo Cornista, Alvin Cornista, Renato Superable, alias Lupen, and Rogelio Mendoza, Superable’s two cousins, JunJun and Silverio, all of whom admitted responsibility for 17 kidnap-for-ransom cases, including Chua-Sy’s. Silverio, the 3rd most wanted kidnaper with an P800,000 prize on his head, was arrested Feb. 17 by the Special Operations Group and intelligence unit of the regional police in Leyte.

• Norham Ali, also known as “Commander Ramsey,” a leader of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom group, was nabbed Sept. 13 in Zamboanga del Sur. Ali, one of the most wanted fugitives in the country with a P500,000 bounty, is believed to have been behind the abduction of Italian priest Giuseppe Pierantoni from his convent in Zamboanga del Sur and five Chinese engineers in 2001.

• Joint elements of the Quezon and Batangas police arrested Efren Anido, alleged member of the dreaded Moog kidnap-for-ransom gang on July 17. Anido had a P500,000 bounty for his arrest.

• Cavite Provincial Police Mobile Group arrested May 8 Christopher Simbahan, suspected member of the Batangas-based Simbahan kidnap-for-ransom gang.

• Police arrested Feb. 8 Ronald Amantiad Ruelan, who carried a P500,000 bounty and is accused of kidnaping Elizabeth Josephine Puyat in Manila in 2002.

• Military and police intelligence agents arrested Feb. 5 Aminula Jimlani, alleged ranking leader of the Abu Sayyaf extremist group in Zamboanga. Jimlani, who had a P1 million bounty, was among the bandits who seized Americans Guillermo Sobero, missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham and 17 local tourists and beach resort personnel in Palawan in 2001.

• The country’s 9th most wanted kidnaper, Emerson Alzate was arrested Jan. 6 by the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response in Pasig City. Alzate carried a P600,000 bounty for his capture and was wanted for kidnaping Lorenza Verganilla in 2004.

Police involvement

A number of the kidnap suspects arrested and charged were members of the police.

• Inspector Marijoy Perez, PO2 Clifford De Guzman, his brother PO2 Jeffrey De Guzman and Aurelio Pavo Jr. were charged Oct. 16 in Manila with kidnaping Tsinoy businessman Henry Sia last Sept. 1. Sia was released after payment of P200,000 in ransom.

• PACER arrested Sept. 1 PO1 Antonio Castillo, PO1 Jose L. Zapatos, Godofredo Navanes, Lynfer Bicudo, Crispin Araneta, Anabelle Olidan and her husband Benjamin, believed to be remnants of the Ilonggo kidnap-for-ransom group, following the rescue of twin brothers Jin Ritz and Klevyelt Sermonia, their sister Vinz and nanny, Eulalia Cuevas, in Quezon City last Aug. 30. The group is also behind the kidnapping of Gian Jethro Chua in 2004 and of Josua Cancio in 2003.

• The National Bureau of Investigation arrested June 21 SPO1 Ruben Bernardo, tagged as an accomplice in the abduction of businesswoman Aida Amanudin last April 26.

• NBI arrested in May Willie Pe Lopez, one of the seven convicted kidnapers behind the abduction of Niño Lorenzo Tobiano in 2001. Lopez, tagged as the brains behind the kidnapping, reportedly conspired with former Navotas policeman Rodolfo Magleo, brothers Antonio and Bryan Ajoc, Roger Magleo, Alex Go and Abu Hakin in kidnaping Tobiano. Rodolfo and the Ajoc brothers were arrested shortly after Tobiano managed to escape and seek police assistance.

• SPO3 Valeriano Parra and Gerardo Cisip of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were arrested April 23 for kidnaping Felipe Gatdula and his nephew Julio Cataquis in Batangas last April 22. The victims were released after payment of P200,000 in ransom.

• Police officers Dino Magallanes, detailed at the Computer Service in Camp Crame, and Almamerto Dumaguing of the Central Police District, and their civilian cohorts were arrested April 22 for kidnaping with extortion a businesswoman in Manila.

• PACER arrested Jan. 31 former NBI agent Martin Soriano, his security officer Ramiro Ganzon and driver Danny Rendon, while receiving P200,000 in exchange for the release of Caroline Guillen in Quezon City. Another businessman, Allan Sycip of Mandaluyong City, positively identified Soriano as the man who took his Honda Civic, P100,000 cash, video camera and watch on Jan. 28. Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo, Malate police station commander (Station 9) and the district’s former anti-drugs chief, and 10 other Manila policemen were relieved from their posts on Feb. 7 because of their alleged links to Soriano.

• NAKTF arrested Jan. 16 a total of 10 kidnap suspects during operations in Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and in Bacoor, Cavite. The raid in Las Piñas resulted in the arrest of PO1 Alvin Velasquez, Jeronie Palania, Ronnie Ramos, Rodolfo Laurio and Mary Rose Cabal. Velasquez is a member of the Special Action Force who has been absent without official leave. He led government agents to their safehouses in Bacoor and Muntinlupa, which resulted in the arrest of Ronnie Candidato, Alvin Monroy, Antonio Monroy, Alex Esquelluna and Michael Baldemoro. Police said the kidnapers were remnants of the Waray-Waray robbery group. NAKTF agents also rescued Katrina Schoof and Jeffrey Cruz in Las Piñas who were kidnapped Jan. 12 in Muntinlupa City.

Convictions

The following cases culminated in the conviction of the following kidnappers:

• Antipolo Judge Francisco Querrubin sentenced Joseph Castillo, Ciriaco Hutalla Jr., Raul Merjudio, Rolly Hutalla, Jessie Costales, Ezer Lavilla and Renato Salatan to death on Dec. 19 for kidnapping businessman Joseph Uy in Makati in 2000. Querrubin also issued a warrant of arrest against the group’s alleged mastermind, businessman John Kenneth Coyukiat, who remains at large. Querrubin cited Uy’s positive identification of his kidnappers and the testimonies of the arresting officers. Uy was dragged to a waiting car, driven to the JC compound in Carmona, Cavite owned by Coyukiat. The following day, kidnappers took Uy to a safehouse in Antipolo City and demanded P50 million from his family. Uy was rescued on Feb. 3 before the ransom payment.

• Cavite Judge Eduardo Israel Tanguanco sentenced Elde Ayupan, Manuel Moral, Generoso Magpulong, Teodulo Iligan and Lorenzo Cañas to death on Dec. 16 for kidnapping Karen Ong Hsieh on April 29, 1999. But Tanguanco acquitted the accused mastermind, Ismael Orbegoso, and Felipe Iligan, employee of Hsieh’s husband, Frank, for lack of evidence. Hsieh was kidnaped, along with her driver, Ernesto Pasundaya, in Cavite.

• Bulacan Judge Crisanto Concepcion imposed the death penalty on Nov. 29 on Rolando Estrella, Jay Gregorio and Ricardo Salazar for having masterminded Jimmy Ting’s abduction in 2002. Their accomplices, Efren Gascon and Danilo Bergonia, were sentenced to life imprisonment.

• Quezon City Judge Ma. Theresa dela Torre-Yadao meted out the death sentence on Sept. 20 to Jaime Moog, Primo Arena, Felicisimo Laygo, Edgar Alvarez, Almario Abrasaldo, Rufo Astero, Dominador Torano, and Manolito Sandoval, kidnappers of Channie Tan Son in Batangas in 1999.

• Las Piñas City Judge Bonifacio Sanz Maceda imposed the death penalty on Sept. 5 on Bayan Abbas Adil, Jimmy Alunan, Alex Daliano and Omar Kamir, and life imprisonment to Rowena Amal Rajid, Teng Usman, Muslimen Wahab, Ali Matoc, Rocky Mocalam, Nhokie Mohamad and Brahim Lidasan, for kidnapping Michelle Siu Ragos in 1998.

• Isabela Judge Leo Jay Principe sentenced Ibrahim Bowak, Muddas Sabinul, Abdulla Uwa, Daud Indaling, Etang Awal, Jimmy Theng and Janital Bolnet Wahid, all members of Abu Sayyaf, to death on June 22. The convicts were earlier charged with murder and kidnapping with serious illegal detention for abducting more than 40 people, including children, during an attack in Barangay Balobo in Lamitan, Basilan in 2001. Ten male captives were beheaded during the attack, while 34 women and children were taken hostage.

• Manila Judge Amor A. Reyes sentenced Raga Sarapida Mamantak and Likad Sarapioda Taurak to life imprisonment on Feb. 8 for the 1999 kidnapping of Christopher Basario.

• Quezon City Judge Vivencio Baclig sentenced Primo Arena, Antonio Tan and Benjamin Dy to death on Jan. 12 for kidnaping Tsinoy trader Mason Ang and his sister Jenny in 2003. Co-accused Demetrio Manliclic was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006 and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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[...] An Agence France Presse story quoted the annual report of the Pacific Strategies and Assessments on kidnaping in the Philippines as saying the number of actual kidnapings in 2005 was about three times the official figure and security analysts estimated that cases occur about every three days. [...]