It wasn’t the first kidnapping for Chengs

Been there, done that.

Amid bewilderment at the "sudden" ransom payment and eventual release of Mary Grace Cheng-Regasa, Camp Crame sources said it was actually the second time for her to be kidnapped.

The sources revealed that one of Regasa’s siblings had also been kidnapped in the past and released after they paid huge ransom. The source, however, did not identify Regasa’s sibling.

In all three cases, Cheng never bothered to seek police assistance during the kidnappings or even lodged a complaint after he had paid the huge ransoms.

Instead, he sought and received police security escorts from then President Joseph Estrada until he was ousted and the police escorts were withdrawn by Camp Crame.

The Cheng family is closely identified with the jailed ex-president and was reported to be among the big-time contributors to Estrada’s 1998 campaign kitty as well as that of Estrada’s wife, Senator-elect Luisa Ejercito.

Police sources claimed the Cheng family has become a "preferred target" of kidnapping syndicates because of their quickness in paying ransom and the family’s subsequent silence after the incident.

"They are also the ones to be blamed because they refuse to cooperate with us," said a member of the PNP anti-kidnapping task force.

The source lamented the Cheng family continues to refuse to talk with the authorities to identify the perpetrators of the kidnappings.

On the other hand, Filipino-Chinese businessmen who know the Chengs suspect that the kidnappings were actually "staged," locally known as "kidnap-me," either to restructure private loans or dissuade real kidnappers from victimizing the family.

"The objective is to make their creditors believe the family paid the ransom publicized in the newspapers and can no longer meet their (loan) obligations," said a Binondo businessman.

The businessman, however, did not discount the possibility that the alleged "kidnap-me" could have been staged to scare off genuine kidnappers with the public and police attention on the fake kidnapping.

But the Central Police District (CPD) is convinced that the kidnapping was genuine and that it was conducted for the ransom and not for any political motive.

CPD central investigation unit chief Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Jaraza said the evidence indicated the Regasa kidnapping was genuine and not politically motivated.

He explained that there are varying reports on the ransom amount because the kidnappers may have initially asked for a P50-million ransom but later agreed to a smaller amount during the negotiations.

He also clarified that Regasa and her two bodyguards were actually released at around 10:30 p.m. Monday at an unspecified place in Laguna after the kidnappers received the ransom.

The three victims then took a passenger bus and reached Cubao, Quezon City at around 1 a.m., Jaraza said.

Regasa was onboard a maroon Mercedes-Benz with license plates TMP-898 with her bodyguard Dionisio Morca and driver Val Torres when they were accosted by four men in police uniforms in front of Malcolm Hall of the UP College of Law at 7:35 a.m. on Monday.

Witnesses said the kidnappers were armed with M-16 rifles and were on board a white Mitsubishi Adventure van and a blue Toyota Corolla, Jaraza said.

Witnesses said they thought the incident was a police operation since four of the perpetrators were in police uniforms and the incident occurred in broad daylight.

Police said the Mercedes-Benz Regasa was riding belonged to Marigold Properties and Holdings Corp. and police have already inspected and dusted the car for possible fingerprints.

Regasa supposedly works for Marigold Properties, police said.