Cebu City police to turn over "kidnapping" case to PACER

CEBU, Philippines - Once the motive in the kidnapping of Judith Jastiva is established, the city police will turn over the case to the Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response for deeper investigation.

PACER is the more appropriate agency to handle kidnapping cases, such as what allegedly happened to Jastiva, said city police director Patrocinio Comendador. PACER is a national support unit of Camp Crame.

Jastiva’s husband Leonardo, national president of the International Missionary Society of Seventh-Day Adventist Church Reform Movement, had alleged three men on board a blue Mitsubishi Lancer abducted his wife evening last Monday in barangay Labangon.

But Comendador said they are digging deeper into the possible motive of the supposed kidnapping, considering that the abductors have so far not made any contact with Leonardo. 

“We are making efforts to locate his wife whether he is telling the truth or not,” Comendador said.

Sr. Insp. George Ylanan, chief of City Intelligence Division and Management Branch, was tasked to lead the hot pursuit operation to locate Jastiva.

Disheartened by suspicion

Yesterday, Leonardo expressed disappointment over suspicions of authorities that the supposed kidnapping was staged so he and his family can relocate to New Zealand.

The president of his religious group’s rival organization told the police that Leonardo’s mother organization would allow their leaders to move to New Zealand for good if there is a threat to their lives. 

“Kana mao’y dako kaayo nakong kasubo… Wa mi policy na ingon ana. Dili ingon ana ang paagi sa amoa. Ma-transfer lang mi didto (New Zealand) kung elected mi. Dugay na man kaayo ko elected and since then, paadtuon na ko nila didto. So, ngano mag-drama-drama pa man ko?” Leonardo said.

He explained he was chosen to be assigned to New Zealand during the general conference delegate meeting last March 24, 2008.

However, the trip reportedly did not push through because they encountered some problems in processing the papers of his family, especially after his eldest child got married and adopted the family name of her husband.

Leonardo also clarified reports that he refused to sign an official statement relative to the incident. He said it so happened that he had to attend to important matters and his schedule did not match that of Ylanan’s.

Leonardo earlier said he would only sign the affidavit after seeking legal advice.

“Simple ra man g’yud ang ako gipangayo. Para nako, bisa’g di na lang nang affidavit kay labad na sa ulo mag-atubang-atubang ug kaso. Wa ko maanad. Pero ug mao na’y paagi nga makita ang akong asawa, nganong balibaran man?” he said.

He also denied pointing to their rival religious group, the Seventh-Day Adventist Reform Movement, as the one behind the kidnapping.

Allan Alilangan, president of the Seventh-Day Adventist Reform Movement, earlier told police that there is a possibility that Leonardo’s flight to New Zealand would be sped up if there is a threat to his life.

Alilangan said that Leonardo has no evidence to point at them as behind the kidnapping. He, however, said that his group will help him to look for his wife.

“Wala pa ko’y gi-punting. Mao ni natagaan nako ug pagtagad na may kalabutan, pero wala jud nako sila gi-tumbok. Sa pagka-karon, wala man jud mi kontra sad,” Leonardo said.

He said he hopes that the police would immediately solve the case.

“Gisakitan na kaayo ko. Ang ako na lang nga mandaran na nila kung kinsa man gani ang ga-gunit sa akong asawa karon ug iuli na unta nila ang akong asawa,” he said. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)