By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday called the kidnappers of a 14-year-old Chinese student psychopaths and barbaric.
Remulla confirmed that the kidnappers cut off the finger of the student to force his family to pay a USD20 million ransom.
The kidnappers even sent a video to the boy’s parents, showing the cutting of the student’s right little finger.
“These people are barbaric. They have crossed the line of being human already. They’ve lost all conscience, they are psychopaths, they will do anything to gain an advantage,” Remulla said in a TV interview.
The suspects initially demanded a USD20 million ransom but it was later reduced to USD1 million.
Remulla said the family did not pay any ransom.
The foreign student was abandoned in Parañaque City on Tuesday night.
According to the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), the Chinese student was reported missing after he did not return home from an activity at the British School of Manila on Feb. 20.
The police recovered the student’s vehicle in San Rafael, Bulacan on Feb. 21, but the family driver was found dead inside.
Authorities linked the kidnapping to Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) but the boy’s family denied it.
Remulla said the family driver appeared to be in cahoots with the kidnappers.
“But he is not here to defend himself anymore,” he said.
Remulla said the syndicate that kidnapped the boy consisted of 22 men, including four Chinese who were the leaders.
He said one of the leaders escaped when the police launched an operation following the student’s rescue.
“But we will find him. We know who he is. We know where he hangs out. We have his numbers. We know his people. And we are almost certain that we will get him pretty soon,” he said.
Remulla said the syndicate’s Chinese leader would not be able to leave the country as he is also wanted in China.
PNP-AKP Director Col. Elmer Ragay said they are monitoring at least five kidnapping groups.
“We have already neutralized some of the members. Itong mga at large ang tinatrabaho natin (We are hunting down those at large). We would be filing the necessary cases to secure warrants of arrest,” he said. (PNA)
