2 snatched in Binondo

Ten armed men dressed in police uniforms allegedly abducted two Filipino-Chinese traders in Binondo, Manila before dawn yesterday, police said.

Reports from the Western Police District (WPD) General Assignments Section identified those abducted as Benedict Leong and Judith Chan, both residents of 17 Baretto St., Frexas, Phase VI, BF Homes in Parañaque City.

According to the couple’s driver Hernando Cuna, they were passing through a dimly-lit portion of Juan Luna street at about 3:30 a.m. aboard their Toyota Corolla when they were flagged down by the suspects who were brandishing rifles.

Thinking the suspects were manning a legitimate checkpoint, the victims agreed to stop their vehicle but the suspects pulled out handguns and instead dragged them into a waiting Mitsubishi Adventure van (WHD-980). The suspects then ordered Cuna to lie face down and not to follow them as the van sped away.

WPD General Assignments Section chief, Chief Inspector Eduardo Villena, said he has already formed a team to follow up the report but has not yet come up with a solid lead in the alleged kidnapping.

"We are still verifying the report. Except for the driver, no relatives of the couple have come forward to coordinate with us," Villena said.

The alleged abduction happened a day after President Arroyo assured the Filipino-Chinese community during a visit to Manila’s Binondo district that she will crack down on kidnapping syndicates.

Meanwhile in Navotas, five persons were arrested by police after being caught red-handed by environment officials scraping off posters of incumbent Mayor Toby Tiangco of the Nationalists People’s Coalition and replacing them with those of one of his political opponents in Navotas early yesterday morning.

Superintendent Roberto Villanueva, Navotas police chief, identified the suspects as Marcial Ramos, 23; Nestor Palomar, 21; Erwin Rosata, 23; April Lagutin, 18 and Edward Acedera, 18, all of Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas.

Police said the suspects were nabbed at around 4:30 a.m. yesterday after being caught in the act by Mariano "Jun" Cayabyab, Navotas Environmental Inspector, while on a routine inspection. – Nestor Etolle, Jerry Botial