Two Manila kidnap victims recovered in Northern Samar

MANILA, Philippines - Manila policemen rescued two of three persons abducted from a pre-school in Sta. Cruz, Manila last Wednesday and recovered a carjacked vehicle during follow-up operations in Northern Samar.

Manila Police District officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez said Tony Austria, 63, a caretaker of the Heidelberg Pre-School in Sta. Cruz, Manila, was found wounded along the national road in Northern Samar.

A 10-year-old boy was also found unharmed and under the care of the parish priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Calbayog City, Samar.

The two, including pre-school owner Reynaldo Aguilar, 67, were earlier reported missing since last Wednesday.

Aguilar’s Ford Focus with license plates ZEF-884 was also reported missing.

MPD intelligence chief Superintendent Ernesto Fojas Jr. tasked Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent James Afalla and anti-carjacking section head Chief Inspector Rayan Ador to coordinate with Northern Samar police force following reports that Austria was found in the province.

Austria told police that Aurelio Esidera, his neighbor at the ASL Building in Sta. Cruz, robbed Aguilar, hogtied him and the boy and drove off with Aguilar’s car to Samar province.

While traversing the highway in Samar, Esidera shot Austria in the neck and left him for dead at the highway where he was later rescued.

Ador said they recovered Aguilar’s abandoned car in Matnog, Sorsogon.

Gutierrez said investigators are conducting follow up operations to find Aguilar.