Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered the relief of the director of the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) following the discovery of the cadavers of a businessman and his driver in Rizal on Wednesday, April 10.
At the same time, Marbil ordered the creation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to look into all the circumstances that could lead to the identification of all those involved in the kidnap-slay of businessman Congyuan Guo, also known as Anson Tan and his driver Armanie Pabillo.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the SITG will be headed by PNP Chief Directorial Staff Police Lt. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headed by Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III as the lead investigating unit.
And the relief of AKG director Brig. Gen. Elmer Ragay, according to Fajardo, is a strong message from Marbil, about accountability.
“He (Marbil) is holding all commanders accountable. In the case of general Ragay, if you are not competent to deliver what is expected from you then you would be relieved from your position,” said Fajardo.
Ragay was replaced by Police Col. David Poklay in the order dated April 9, or the day the cadavers of Tan and his driver were discovered in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Backtracking
Fajardo said a case conference was held on Thursday, April 10, and no less than Marbil presided to come up with the best measure to solve the kidnap-slay incident.
Part of the investigation being conducted, according to her, is the backtracking of all the available closed circuit television (CCTV) from the time tan left his office in Valenzuela City on March 29.
“We are conducting backtracking to identify the missing links from the time that the victim left his office on March 29 to the discovery of his Lexus on April 8 (in Quezon City) and the cadavers yesterday (April 9),” said Fajardo.
Based on the initial probe, the family of Tan started to contact other friends and relatives on March 30 as he missed all his appointments. They later reported the incident to the AKG.
The cadavers were recovered as a result of the investigation and Fajardo said there were signs of bruises, injuries and strangulation.
Unusual
Fajardo said the investigation wants to establish whether or not the motive was indeed kidnapping since there are some factors that do not fit the elements of kidnap-for-ransom.
“Included in the investigation if the main objective really is kidnapping and why they were still killed because the usual that we encounter in kidnapping is that once ransom is paid, then the victim would be released,” said Fajardo.
But Fajardo said they could not provide additional details as to the motive and the people behind the kidnap-slay.
She, however, said that they are looking into a criminal group involved in past kidnapping cases, adding that the same group could be composed of Filipinos and Chinese nationals.