PTA chief waylaid by cops

BAUAN, Batangas – Four armed men, including two policemen, waylaid a sport utility vehicle driven by Philippine Tourism Authority general manager Robert Dean Barbers on a highway here, but fled when passersby recorded the incident on a cell phone camera.

Superintendent Ferdinand de Castro, Bauan police chief, said two of the suspects, Police Officer 1 Jun Virtusio of the Cuenca police station and civilian Gerry Mendoza, were later arrested by responding policemen.

Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police director, also ordered a manhunt for Virtusio’s cohorts, one of whom was identified as PO3 Manuel Villegas. They are believed to be members of a kidnapping or carjacking gang. 

De Castro told The STAR that Barbers, together with his wife and three children, were in a Ford Explorer with license plate XCF-938 on their way to a beach resort when they were stopped by the suspects.

In a radio interview over DZBB, Barbers said that he was driving along the highway at around 11 a.m. when a Ford Laser overtook his SUV from the road, blocking his path whenever he attempted to bypass the car that had no license plates.

"For 15 minutes I flashed my headlights to signal that I will overtake, but the car (Laser) with no plates kept on blocking my path," said Barbers who was on a weekend break.

Sensing danger, Barbers later overtook the Laser using the road shoulder, but another Toyota Revo chased him again and managed to block his path and forced him to stop the SUV at Barangay Manghinao around 11:30 am.

He said two suspects who were both only wearing short pants poked their handguns at him and ordered him to step out of the SUV.

Before stepping out, Barbers said he opened the car windows to get the attention of passersby that he was with his young wife and children.

Fortunately, a passenger of a passing car stopped and took footage of the commotion using a cellular telephone.

The suspects on board the Revo apparently sensing that the commotion was catching the attention of passersby, immediately fled, leaving Virtusio and Mendoza, who were later nabbed by responding policemen.

The two suspects are now detained at the Bauan police station. Virtusio later identified the other suspect as Villegas.

Barbers said his wife also took photographs of the suspects using her cellphone.

He said the incident could have been an aborted kidnapping, but the police are still investigating.

Radovan said the police are investigating if the attempt on Barbers is a case of kidnapping or carjacking.

"Villegas (the suspect that escaped) withdrew upon sensing that the occupant of the Ford [Explorer] was Barbers," said Radovan. "I already ordered the filing of criminal and administrative charges against the erring cops."