NBI Interpol to seek China’s help in locating kidnap suspect

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will seek assistance from Chinese law enforcement agencies to locate and bring back a Chinese national accused in a 2001 high-profile kidnap-for-ransom case.

Zhang Du, alias Wilson Zhang, is one of seven Chinese nationals accused in the kidnapping of Jackie Tiu. He was deported last May even though he was still on trial and there was a hold-departure order on him.

"Since we don’t have an extradition treaty with China, the only thing we can do is appeal to our Interpol counterparts in China," said Ricardo Diaz, head of the NBI’s Interpol division.

The Bureau of Immigration is currently investigating Zhang’s escape. He allegedly used forged clearances from the NBI, immigration bureau and the court to leave detention and was escorted to the airport by immigration officers.

Diaz said Zhang’s NBI clearance was apparently a fake. "Before he can be released from detention, he has to submit an NBI clearance claiming that there is no pending case against him."

An immigration officer is currently under investigation but bureau chief Alipio Fernandez has refused to identify him until the probe is finished.

Fearful of a cover-up, Tiu has demanded the officer’s identity. "It is not enough to just sack the agent he’s been talking about. He should also file charges against him to prove that he was sincere when he said he never tolerated such suspicious activity," she said.

An immigration officer assigned at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, who approved Zhang’s travel papers, denies helping the suspect escape.

Officer Allan Reyes maintains that he followed procedure. He said he assumed Zhang’s papers were in order because they had been presented to him by immigration escorts. Reyes did not identify the escorts.

Ferdinand Sampol, immigration head supervisor at the airport, said Reyes is not yet off the hook. "Due diligence should have still been exercised to find out why the documents were mere photocopies," he said.

Tiu recently learned of Zhang’s deportation when her father was checking on the progress of the case.

President Arroyo had ordered Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes, chief of the National Anti-Crime Task Force, to take charge of the investigation.

Reyes was also ordered to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs to have Zhang brought back to the Philippines. — With Rainier Allan Ronda