New witnesses tag PAOCTF cops in kidnap cases

Two witnesses presented by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) accused yesterday of kidnapping and murder two top officials of the disbanded Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

Hong Kong nationals Queena Lau Yueh Chuen and Chong Kao Fai arrived aboard a Cathay Pacific flight at 9:50 a.m. yesterday to submit their affidavits to the NBI and file kidnapping and murder charges before the Department of Justice against Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino and Superintendent John Campos.

The two were escorted by Inspector Wang Ken Pao of the Hong Kong Police.

Lau told NBI agents she negotiated with Aquino and Campos the payment of a HK$5 million ransom for the release of her husband Wong Kaw Chong, who was kidnapped on March 24, 1999.

Lau said the kidnappers killed her husband after she failed to raise the HK$5 million, having only HK$ 100,000 at her disposal at the time.

On the other hand, Chong said PAOCTF agents kidnapped his brother, Chong Hui Ming on Dec. 31, 1998 and that he may also have been killed.

NBI Director Reynaldo Wycoco told reporters yesterday that the bureau is looking into reports that former PNP chief Panfilo Lacson was involved in the kidnapping of Wong and Chong.

"We have yet to find out the role played by former PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson in the kidnapping because the authorities have several John Does in the list," he said. – Mike Frialde and Rey Arquiza