Philippines
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2 Chinese nationals, 2 Filipinos charged with kidnap for ransom of 3 foreigners -- NBI
2 Chinese nationals, 2 Filipinos charged with kidnap for ransom of 3 foreigners -- NBI
Two Chinese and two Filipinos, who are now in custody, have been charged before the court and the Department of Justice (DOJ) with kidnap for ransom of three foreign nationals in Nasugbu, Batangas last May.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) identified the two Filipinos as Jomar P. Ubarde and Danilo L. Abilong, who were both hired as bodyguards of the victims and separately surrendered to the bureau last week.
It said a complaint for kidnap for ransom under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), as amended, in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 9372, the Human Security Act, has been filed against the Filipino suspects before the DOJ.
It also said the three foreign victims, who were not identified, were released by the suspects after paying $100,000 ransom.
After investigation, the NBI said the victims were abducted at a made-up checkpoint set up by the suspects near the Kaybiang Tunnel which was near the Cavite-Batangas boundary.
“Disguised as law enforcement officers, the perpetrators forcibly abducted them under the pretense of conducting a legitimate police operation,” it said.
It also said the two Filipino suspects issued extrajudicial confessions concerning the case.
NBI Director Jaime B. Santiago said the two Chinese suspects, who were also not identified, were earlier arrested for illegal possession of firearms at a police checkpoint in Bacoor, Cavite.
Charges against the two Chinese suspects for kidnapping for ransom have been filed before the Quezon City regional trial court (RTC).
Col. David N. Poklay, director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG) said “later on we found out these two Chinese nationals ay sila po ‘yung namumuno sa grupo po kung saan po nadukot ‘yung tatlong biktima (they were the ones who headed the group who kidnapped the three victims).”
Poklay said the PNP-AKG sought the help of the NBI after the two Chinese suspects identified their Filipino accomplices.
He said the two Chinese suspects, who are both detained with the Bacoor Municipal Police Station, also underwent inquest for violation of the country’s Immigration Law.