American to promote RP tourism despite kidnap experience

Showing no signs of psychological trauma following his rescue after being chained for 22 days, Chinese-American Alastair Joseph Onglingswan said yesterday he would still promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination in this part of the world.

On the other hand, George Yao, the Hong Kong national and principal suspect in the kidnapping, will remain in the country to face more criminal charges.

Yao reportedly confessed before investigators of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) that he and his Filipino wife, Susana Sumogda, were also involved in the kidnap-slay of an insurance executive four months ago.

Onglingswan said he would still promote the country to his friends and family in the United States as a perfect tourist destination.

"My stressful and dark experience does not deter me from coming back here," he told reporters late Thursday in a news conference held at the American Embassy Seafront Club in Pasay City.

"My experience has even motivated me to do something to contribute to its development," Onglingswan said.

Onglingswan revealed he remained optimistic during his 22 days in captivity that he would be rescued. "Death has not come into my mind," he said.

The 35-year old American lawyer said he does not regret coming here to venture into an information technology business. Onglingswan is the proprietor of "Pinoy Dolyar," a remittance company in the US.

Onglingswan also reiterated his gratitude to the police, particularly NAKTF, for the professionalism they showed during the rescue last Wednesday.

But the American refused to discuss other details of the rescue citing the ongoing investigation on the kidnapping case.

Authorities, on the other hand, said they are focusing on the admissions made by Yao that he and his wife had abducted 28-year-old Jasper Beltran, an insurance executive and son of a serviceman assigned with NAKTF under Angelo Reyes.

Police said they have yet to find the remains of Beltran despite claims by the couple. It was not also clear why the couple killed Beltran despite the payment of ransom.

Yao admitted during interrogations that they supposedly buried Beltran’s remains in a septic tank at Camella Sorrento Subdivision in Bacoor where Onglingswan was rescued last Wednesday.

Another search, also in Bacoor, yielded negative results prompting investigators that they were being given a run-around by the couple.

NAKTF said Beltran was abducted at the vicinity of SM Megamall on Sept. 15 last year.

The victim’s parents told NAKTF officials they paid P50,000 in ransom after receiving the call from the kidnappers sometime last year.

The couple initially demanded $300,000 from the Beltrans but further negotiations lowered the ransom to P105,000.

NAKTF said investigators got a breakthrough after Beltran’s girlfriend, a certain Mina, recognized Yao during a media presentation the other day.

Mina said Yao personally received the ransom money from her following the suspect’s instructions to meet at the Binondo Church in Manila on Sept. 18.

She said Yao was riding a bicycle and picked up the ransom money placed in a yellow plastic bag.

NAKTF operatives arrested Yao and Sumogda in rescuing Onglingswan in Bacoor last Wednesday.

The American was on his way to a gym in Makati City on Jan. 20 when he was snatched by Yao, who posed as a taxi driver. Onglingswan narrated he felt dizzy inside the taxi and later found himself in chains when he regained consciousness.

Yao was arrested after NAKTF traced the origin of the e-mail sent by his wife asking the victim’s relatives in the US for $4,000 to cover "food and other personal needs."

The victim’s friend and business partner, Manila Bulletin reporter Brenda Piquero Tuazon, also received a text message from Onglingswan informing her that he was kidnapped and asked her to produce P20,000 for his daily expenses while in captivity.

Onglingswan also instructed Tuazon not to report the kidnapping to the authorities.

After the e-mail was traced, NAKTF immediately placed Yao under surveillance and traced the house where the American was kept in chains for 22 days.