NAKTF joins hunt for Marikina kidnappers

The National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) has joined the manhunt for a security guard tagged in the abduction of a three-year-old boy in Marikina City last Monday.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., Marikina City police chief, said a NAKTF team joined two local police teams in scouring Metro Manila and nearby Antipolo City for the remaining suspects in the kidnapping of the boy who was taken to Barangay Marikina Heights and later abandoned in Pasig City.

Rojas refused to identify the suspects so as not to jeopardize ongoing follow-up operations.

The security guard’s identity was given away by arrested suspect, Amelito Castillo, who was arrested hours after they grabbed Rubio from his parents after a robbery operation. "I cannot reveal as yet the identity of the security guard. We strongly believe that he was the one who demanded the P2 million ransom," Rojas told The STAR.

According to Rojas, the suspect has left his family residence in Barangay Cupang in Antipolo City when NAKTF and Marikina police teams came for him. He expressed strong belief that the suspect is now staying with his relatives in Metro Manila. "We are still in the process of identifying their third companion," he said.

Rubio, her mother, Lalaine, 37, a consultant of a firm importing dental equipment, and her male companion were surprised when they entered their house at 10:40 a.m. Monday upon seeing Castillo and his companions, who were wearing bonnets, waiting for them.

At gunpoint, the suspects herded the victims upstairs and hogtied them. They then ransacked the rooms and took $600 and pieces of jewelry owned by Lalaine’s mother and drove off taking along Rubio.

Before leaving, the security guard told Lalaine to proper P2 million in exchange for the safe release of her son.

But upon learning that Castillo was arrested, the two other suspects panicked and decided to abandon Rubio, inside their get-away vehicle, a Pathfinder with license plate CPL 219. The boy was reunited with his mother and relatives Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD) said Castillo’s sister surrendered yesterday the $600 loot of the suspects.