Boy kidnapped, abandoned by ex-family driver

Police arrested a newly-fired family driver hours after he and his two companions kidnapped the three-year-old son of his wealthy employer in Marikina City last Monday.

The boy was found by a shopping mall security guard inside an abandoned vehicle along Ortigas Extension in Pasig City at 8:30 p.m. last Monday.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Marikina City police chief, said the suspect, Amelito Castillo, a native of Leyte, admitted he planned the kidnapping to get even with the boy’s mother, a consultant of a firm importing dental equipment. She fired the driver last Friday.

Castillo was arrested after his mother gave his location to police.

Rojas said that Castillo initially denied involvement in the abduction, but he was later identified by the mother as among the three men who were waiting for them inside her house in Barangay Marikina Heights at 10:40 a.m. last Monday. All three were wearing bonnets.

The suspects ordered the mother and her companion to go upstairs, where they were hogtied. The suspects then ransacked the rooms, taking $6,000 and several pieces of jewelry.

They took the boy and drove off on board a Nissan Pathfinder (CPL-219).

Before leaving, they asked the mother to prepare P2 million in exchange for the release of the boy, Rojas said.

During tactical interrogation, Castillo admitted that he was one of those who barged inside the house of the family. He refused to name his companions.

Rojas said the boy was inside the parked Pathfinder when found by the mall’s security guard. The security guard turned him over to barangay officials of Barangay Sta. Lucia in Pasig City.

The boy and the mother had a tearful reunion yesterday at the barangay hall in the presence of Rojas and other police officials of the Eastern Police District (EPD). – Non Alquitran