Man kidnaps partner’s teen cousin

MANILA, Philippines - A man reportedly kidnapped his estranged partner’s 18-year-old cousin in Malabon City Friday night in order to force his partner to reconcile with him.

Malabon police chief Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Ampil said Michael delos Reyes, 23, released the teenager Saturday afternoon in Bulacan. He remains at large.

Ampil, in a report to Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Antonio Decano, said Delos Reyes and another man arrived at the teenager’s house in Barangay Potrero in a gold Toyota Vios without license plates. They were looking for his partner, Maria Elaine Llamado, 23, and their six-month-old daughter.

Delos Reyes demanded that the teenager’s mother tell him where his partner and daughter are. When she failed to provide any information, Delos Reyes reportedly grabbed the teenager and forced her into the Vios.

The teenager’s mother tried to rescue her daughter, but Delos Reyes repeatedly pistol-whipped her. Before escaping, Delos Reyes allegedly told the girl’s mother to return his partner and child in exchange for her daughter’s freedom, Ampil said.

On Nov. 2, Delos Reyes brought Elaine and their child to her cousin’s house to allow her to visit her parents’ tombs at the Manila North Cemetery.

Elaine, however, told police that the visit was part of her ploy to abandon Delos Reyes “for good” for allegedly physically and verbally abusing her. When Delos Reyes learned of Elaine’s plan, he returned to her cousin’s house but failed to find her and their daughter.

Elaine, with guidance from police officers, called Delos Reyes on his cell phone and tried to convince him to free her cousin. She said Delos Reyes refused but she insisted that she would not return to him.

Ampil said the victim was already reunited with her family Saturday afternoon but they begged the police to let her get some rest because she had been traumatized.

“We will be talking to her (today),” Ampil told The STAR yesterday.

Ampil said they are looking into Delos Reyes’ involvement in other crimes.