Ex-cop kidnaps cousin in Cabanatuan City for ₱5M ransom

A former police officer abducted his cousin in Cabanatuan City after claiming the latter refused to help him and his sick wife.

According to Raffy Tima’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, CCTV footage caught three men waiting outside a house at a subdivision in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija on Monday morning. 

A red pickup truck later arrived and parked in front of the house. As the male driver disembarked to open the door, two of the three men went after the man and forced him inside the vehicle. 

Police identified the victim as a 59-year-old businessman. 

However, the abduction failed due to several circumstances that were not caught on camera. 

“Nagkaroon pa ng disgrasya, nakadisgrasya pa sila ng tao, patakas sila nung nakuha nila yung tao,” said Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office director Police Colonel Heryl Bruno. 

(An accident even occurred, they actually hit someone while they were attempting to escape after escaping with the victim.) 

The suspects were also left with no choice, but to leave the vehicle after experiencing another problem. 

“Nagkaroon ng problema yung sasakyan, na-flat. Bumababa, naglakad sila. Kanya-kanya silang lulan ng iba’t-ibang sasakyan,” said Bruno. 

(The vehicle encountered a problem—it had a flat tire. They got out and walked by foot. They then went their separate ways by boarding different vehicles.) 

The bloodied victim, on the other hand, was found in Barangay Bakod Bayan and was immediately brought to a hospital.

“Ang biktima kanina, siyempre  nagkaroon ng trauma dahil binugbog siya along the way. Ayos naman siya at nasa ospital,” said Bruno. 

(The victim is currently traumatized because he was beaten along the way. However, he is in stable condition and is currently undergoing treatment.) 

The police’s backtracking reached San Miguel in Bulacan where they found out that the mastermind is the victim’s cousin. 

“Nahuli natin yung pinaka main suspect na nataon naman na ex-pulis na kamag-anak mismo ng biktima,” said Bruno. 

(We arrested the primary suspect, who happens to be a former police officer and a relative of the victim.) 

“Ayon sa rebelasyon ng kamag-anak, ‘yung pinaka pinsan nya na ex-pulis, is ang sinasabi niya ay problema sa pera, kailangan ng pera. Nag-demand sila ng P5 milyon,” the police official said. 

(According to a relative's revelation—the cousin who is an ex-cop—was claiming to have financial problems and was in need of money. They demanded P5 million.) 

The unemployed suspect admitted he held a grudge against his cousin which was further fueled by his need for a job and money.

“Nagalit ako sa kanya dahil nangangailangan ako trabaho kasi may sakit ang asawa ko 'di niya ako pinapansin. ilang beses ako nagsabi, ini-ignore niya ako eh,” the suspect said. 

(I was angry at him because I was in need of work since my wife is sick, but he ignored me. I reached out to him several times, but he just ignored me.) 

However, the suspect said he never ordered his accomplices to hurt the victim. 

“Hindi sir, hindi ko inutos na saktan dahil pinsan ko ‘yun eh. Ang sabi ko lang, takutin lang para magbigay ng pera. Pera lang ang kailangan natin eh kako,” he said. 

(No, sir, I didn't order them to hurt him because he's my cousin. I just told them to scare him so he would give money. I told them, we just need the money.) 

Meanwhile, the two other suspects were also arrested in Cabanatuan and Palayan. They are all facing charges of kidnapping. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News