3 victims still missing 16 days after being abducted in Manila

The abduction of three friends in Manila's Santa Cruz district last April 7 remains a mystery to this day.

According to Emil Sumangil’s Friday report on "24 Oras," 23-year-old Rexcell John Hipolito, 21-year-old Ronald Jae Dizon, and 18-year-old Ivan Serrano were out on the street when eight gunmen drove up and forced the victims into a car.

The car then roared away headed for Felix Huertas-Rizal Avenue.

The families of the victims have no information on their condition.

Hipolito’s mother, an overseas Filipino worker currently in the Middle East, was worried sick about her son.

“Sobrang hirap po talaga na malayo ako, nagiisip ako. Sa pagkakaalam ko wala naman ‘yan kaaway, wala siyang ginagawang masama. Papaano ko po siya mahahanap,” his mother asked.

(It’s really difficult. I’m so far away. As far as I know, he doesn’t have enemies, he didn't do anything wrong. How can I find him?)

While Hipolito was not involved in drugs, he recently got into a fight.

“Nagkaroon po kasi ng maliit na rambolan diyan sa lugar namin. Hindi naman po siya ‘yung totally gumawa ng problema na ‘yan. Tapos nadawit po siya diyan. Hanggang sa ide-demanda po siya ng pamilya nung nakaaway nila. Ongoing po ‘yung kaso,” she said.

(There was a small fight in the area. He’s not the one who caused the trouble. He just got caught up in it. And then the family filed a complaint against him. The case is ongoing.)

“Tapos nung time na nag cash bond kami. Nangyari na nga po ‘yan. ‘Yung pagkakawala ng anak ko,” she added.

(Then the abduction happened at the time that we cashed bond.)

Meanwhile, Dizon's father could find no reason why anyone woul want to abduct his son, who just moved to Manila from the province.

“Nabalitaan ko na lang po, nagtra-trabaho ako, nadukot po eh,” Romeo Garcia Tala Jr. said, adding that his son was not involved in any fight.

(I was working and then I found out that he was abducted.)

While there were no persons of interest in the case, Manila Police District Director Brigadier General Leo Francisco said they were  investigating the matter.

“Nakikiusap po ako ibalik niyo na po ‘yung anak ko. Nananawagan din po ako kay Mayor Isko Moreno, sir nagmamakaawa po ako sa inyo, tulungan niyo po ako. Bilang magulang, gusto ko po malaman kung asan ang ‘yung anak ko. Kung sino po kumuha sa kaniya,” Hipolito’s mother said.

(I'm pleading with you to please return my son to me. I'm also asking for Mayor Isko Moreno's help. Sir please help me. As a parent, I just want to know where my son is and who abducted him.)

— Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News