PNP to invite Ping, 13 others in death of two Chinese nationals

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is set to invite opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson and 13 others to help shed light on the murder of two Chinese nationals who were allegedly abducted in separate incidents in 1998 and 1999 for their alleged link to illegal drug operations.

Among those to be called is retired police Chief Superintendent Rey Acop, said Senior Superintendent Benjamin delos Santos, head of the special team created by acting PNP Chief Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa to look into the matter.

Delos Santos said a joint investigation is being conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the PNP Legal Service, of which he is the executive officer.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the special team is now drafting its report in connection with the investigation into the death of Chong Hiu Ming and Wong Kam Chong, whose remains are believed to have been exhumed in Cavite.

Records showed that Chong, then 33, was purportedly abducted on Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila on Dec. 30, 1998, and Wong, then 32, in Damar Village, Quezon City, on March 26, 1999.

Last March 10, former government asset Mary “Rosebud” Ong asked the CIDG to check the DNA of the two Chinese nationals to help bolster her case of kidnap for ransom with murder against Lacson and his men.

Lacson was the PNP chief when the incidents happened.

Ong said she was the principal action agent of Oplans Athena and Cyclops who witnessed the abduction, the physical torture and disposal of the two foreigners.

“The two were allowed to speak with their wives to instruct them how to remit ransom money from Hong Kong at that time,” Ong added.

Ong said the remains of Chong and Wong could be those exhumed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) a few years ago.

If the DNA of those remains match the DNA of their family, Ong said her accusation against Lacson and his men will be supported with evidence.

Ong said the case is now pending before the Supreme Court after Lacson raised the issue of double jeopardy because the Chinese families have also filed similar charges.

Ong said she made her request to the CIDG after relatives of Chong and Wong asked the Hong Kong Supreme Court to declare the presumption of death due to their disappearance for seven years.

“With the request of the relatives to declare them dead, this would strengthen my accusation that they were killed in the Philippines,” Ong said.

She clarified that she was reviving her case against Lacson for justice and not to get back at the opposition senator.

Aside from Ong’s request, Hung Chin Sum, wife of Chong, and Lau Yuet Queena, wife of Wong, appeared before the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong on June 2 to affirm their request for an investigation of the purported abductions.

Hung said Chong went on a business trip to the Philippines and never returned.

On the other hand, Lau said that on May 4, 2001, the NBI informed her that it had submitted to the Department of Justice an affidavit recommending the prosecution of persons involved in the disappearance of her husband.