3 cops, 1 civilian charged in trader’s abduction

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recently filed kidnap-for-ransom and other charges against three policemen and a tricycle driver who were allegedly responsible for the abduction of American businessman Henry Sia last Sept. 1.

Special Investigator 4 Isaac Carpeso Jr., of the NBI-Special Action Unit (SAU), said they filed the charges against Police Inspector Marijon Perez, assigned at the Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba, Laguna; PO1 Clifford de Guzman, of the Central Police District (CPD); his brother, PO1 Jeffrey de Guzman, previously connected with Anti-Illegal Recruitment Division of the Manila Police District (MPD); and tricycle driver Aurelio Pavo Jr., a resident of Limay, Tondo.

Carpeso said kidnap-for-ransom, robbery and car theft charges were filed against the four suspects while additional charges of illegal possession of firearms were lodged against PO1 De Guzman of the CPD.

NBI-SAU Assistant Regional Director Vicente de Guzman III said they lodged robbery charges against them because one of the suspects reportedly took Sia’s cellular phone, P10,000 cash, ATM cards, and identification cards. The victim is an American citizen of Chinese descent and is reportedly a car dealer.

The same group is also reportedly responsible for the kidnapping of Filipino-Chinese John Chua. So far, only Jeffrey and Pavo have been arrested for Chua’s kidnapping last Aug. 6. The other De Guzman and Perez remain at large.

SAU filed the charges before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office on Oct. 12.

On Sept. 1 at around 2:30 p.m., Sia was driving his Mitsubishi Pajero, with license plate CRN-525, along Fugoso street in Sta. Cruz, Manila when four armed men on board a Toyota Lucida van, with license plate RAM-479, blocked his vehicle. Three of the suspects alighted from the van and forcibly took him.

Sia earlier told the NBI that he was able to see through the blindfold and saw that he was brought to a house located at no. 53 Linao street, Quezon City reportedly owned by PO1 De Guzman. The suspects demanded P5 million from his family but after negotiations, the ransom was reduced to P200,000. He was released the following day at 1:30 a.m. in Banaue, Quezon City.

The businessman immediately sought the assistance of the SAU-NBI, who applied for a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio Jr., Branch 24 of the Manila City Regional Trial Court (MCRTC).

The NBI though has yet to find Sia’s vehicle. — Evelyn Macairan