PNP links up with anti-illegal recruitment task force in missing Australians’ case

The Philippine National Police is now coordinating with Task Force Hunter of the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force in an effort to find two Australian nationals and a Filipino companion, who were taken from their house in Quezon City last Saturday. Police have yet to get the information of the whereabouts of kidnap victims Michael Jayson Rea, 21, and Charles Sajor, 15, both Australian nationals and their Filipino companion, Alfred Batolio, 30.

Sources said the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF) under PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao, is now checking the information about the Australians.

According to the housemaid of the victims, five armed men, who introduced themselves as agents of the Task Force Hunter, entered the house of the victims at 53-D Roces Avenue, Barangay Laging Handa, Quezon City at around 12:45 a.m. Saturday. She told probers that at gunpoint, the suspects herded the victims into the waiting vehicles, a blue Toyota Corolla (XML-198) and a red Mitsubishi Lancer (VCP-985).

The STAR tried to contact Task Force Hunter chief Reynaldo Jaylo but both his phone lines were either be off or out of the coverage area.

Sources said a representative from the Australian Embassy has contacted the Public Information Office of the PNP for information about the incident, which could not be ascertained whether it was abduction or arrest.