A life story that’s straight out of a movie
While I was reading the book 2X: Life After Kidnapping by architect and feng shui master Ka Kuen Chua, I would see well-defined images flashing in my mind as if they were playing out in scenes straight out of a movie. Fear settled inside me given the fact that it’s not fiction but a real-life story.
In 2X: Life After Kidnapping, Ka Kuen tells a blow-by-blow account of his ordeal in the hands of his tormentors. Published by Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran, Inc., Kaisa Heritage Foundation, Inc., and Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order (MRPO), the 167-page, 28-chapter book is a captivating read.
Ka Kuen, a former head of the anti-crime group MRPO, was a victim of kidnapping for ransom not just once but twice. His first harrowing abduction took place on Sept. 10, 2008, and the second, April 21, 2012, or five days after his abductors in the first case were convicted for the crime.
The book also tells details on the life of the Hong Kong-born Chinese-Filipino architect before his abduction and some “disturbing” truths on why many victims of kidnap for ransom – and other crimes in the country – do not come out with their complaints. There were even some who chose to migrate to foreign lands.
The first group of Ka Kuen’s kidnappers, whose mastermind was only referred to as “General,” demanded P70M for his release. His sisters Ying Ying and Pik Yee told the perpetrators it was impossible to produce the whopping amount.
People started calling his sisters when news broke that Ka Kuen was kidnapped. Regal Films’ Matriarch Lily Monteverde, a long-time client and friend of Ka Kuen, was among those who offered help.
His profession, Ka Kuen said, got him some showbiz connections. Aside from Mother Lily, Cherry Pie Picache also made an effort to check and confirm the news with one of his staff members.
“During my 2008 abduction, we were doing Cherry Pie’s house. She cried and shared the news to Susan Roces and they said a prayer for me,” recounted my dear friend Ka Kuen in one of our conversations.
Sen. Lito Lapid also phoned his sisters. “His then chief of staff, attorney Filmer Abrajano, is a good friend,” shared Ka Kuen. “During early years, Senator and Mrs. Lapid used to buy lumber and hardware from our store in Angeles City. Sen. Lapid is such a kind soul and a helpful person,” he added.
After several negotiations, the ransom was reduced to P1,087,800 after Ying Ying told the kidnappers that it was the amount that they were able to raise. She was then instructed to bring the money to the second floor of a fastfood chain on Quezon Ave., head straight to a blue door, and then put the money bag inside the trash can there. I won’t tell you what transpired next since it is best that you find out for yourself in the book, available in all Fully Booked branches nationwide.
Ka Kuen was already the chairman of MRPO when he was kidnapped the second time. “Perhaps, they saw the cards in my wallet with names of police officers and other law enforcement groups that I was released after only 26 hours because they (kidnappers) told me it was a mistaken identity and they even apologized,” he ruminated.
MRPO founding director Teresita Ang See, also fondly called Tessy, exhausted all efforts to help Ka Kuen in filing the case.
“At the time, I had no idea what MRPO was or how they helped victims of kidnap-for-ransom like me. But I owe the organization that Tessy founded a lot – everything that I am now really. Without the efforts of MRPO, helping my sister through the ordeal, I would not be alive today,” Ka Kuen wrote in the book.
“The book is about empowerment of kidnap victims and how to handle the case when something bad happens. Marami pang mabuting tao na pwedeng tumulong sa kanila. It’s an eye-opener na sometimes we think the situation is so bad pero meron palang mabuting tao, may mabuting puso na tutulong sa ‘yo.”
Ka Kuen together with Tessy and members of the MRPO are also encouraging other kidnap-for-ransom victims to do the same – come out, file a case, and let the criminals be punished for the crime. However, not every victim can be easily convinced for some reasons: the litigation process can take a long time, sometimes years; it requires time and especially money because according to some victims, litigation fees can cost a fortune than ransom payments, not to mention the constant harassment and threats to be endured by families and relatives of victims once court trial begins.
However, if no kidnappers are put behind bars, then there will be no end to this evil thing. Paying ransom is not even a guarantee of the safety and release of the victim. Ka Kuen recalled the case of Jefferson Uy, who, like him, was kidnapped twice – first in 2011, and then in 2014. “Ransom was paid, but he was killed just the same,” wrote Ka Kuen.
Ka Kuen was not also immediately released by his abductors despite paying the ransom. He wrote in the book how he was freed from the hands of his kidnappers.
It was only last February when Ka Kuen left his post as MRPO chair yet he remains active in the organization, and is currently a member of the Justice Reform Initiative and the PNP Foundation.
He has rearranged his professional life to devote more time to crime-fighting. “I am also with The Philippine Foundation of the Blessed Mother of the Poor of Father Fernando Suarez and the Tzu Chi Foundation,” declared Ka Kuen.
With stories of kidnappings often translated into film narratives, Ka Kuen welcomes the idea of sharing his story through a documentary film.
“Of course, it has to be Ken Chan (his nephew and GMA Sparkle artist),” said Ka Kuen of the actor that he prefers to portray him if and when his life story is depicted on screen. “And Sen. Lito Lapid will play as one of the rescuers.”
(2X: Life After Kidnapping is also available at the Kaisa Heritage Center, Anda St. cor. Cabildo St. Intramuros, Manila. For orders, call 8526-6796, 8527-6083 or 0927-7609638.)
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