Kidnap suspect, brod slam QCPD report

MANILA, Philippines - Members of a family in Batangas criticized yesterday a report by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) accusing them of being involved in crimes ranging from kidnapping to car theft and robbery.

Rolando Fajardo, who is being held at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention facility, told The STAR he, his brothers and their loved ones are hurt over how their names and reputations are being destroyed by “made up” cases.

Rolando – accused of eight counts of kidnapping and one count of car theft – was included in the Philippine National Police’s list of 10 most wanted fugitives prior to his arrest in November 2010. Also on the list is one of his brothers, Harold, who is wanted for kidnapping and car theft and has a P1-million bounty on his head.

“Never in my life have I kidnapped anyone,” he said. “I’m also a victim.”

Rolando told The STAR he believes he will eventually be cleared of the charges against him.

He said what troubles him and the rest of his family is that the QCPD has dragged his younger brother, Thaddeus, into the issue. He said Thaddeus, 29, is a married man and a father of three working as a legitimate businessman in their hometown of Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

Thaddeus’ name was mentioned in a QCPD report as someone who is building his own group, which has been linked by investigators to a market robbery in Barangay Sta. Teresita, Quezon City on Dec. 20, 2012.

The QCPD alleged that Thaddeus’ group includes Charlie Mamalayan and Police Officer 1 Jonathan Barredo, who were arrested in connection with the Suki Market heist.

Mamalayan, Barredo and Thaddeus have been charged with robbery and frustrated murder, the latter for shooting a guard during the heist. Also included in the charges is Christopher Castillo, a barangay councilman in Batangas, who remains at large.

Persecution

A caller who identified himself as Thaddeus told The STAR that he “does not know these men” and said he feels deep sadness over how his family is reportedly being persecuted.

He said all he knows about the Suki Market heist suspects is that they live in a nearby barangay in Batangas.

“I just want to clear my name because, as a contractor, no client would avail my services. This is my only livelihood,” Thaddeus said.

He added that he has never been put in a blotter report nor been charged. The younger Fajardo said he is afraid the allegations against him may affect his business and sees no motive, except envy, as a motive for the attacks against him.

Photo album

Rolando, in defense of Thaddeus and their family, said the kidnapping allegations against him and Harold stemmed from nothing more than a photo album.

Rolando said his only fault was that he and Harold became godfathers to Roland Villaver when he was married in Bicol in 2001. Villaver was arrested in 2002 for allegedly being a leader of a kidnap gang.

He said he doesn’t know about Villaver’s alleged crimes but because of his presence during the wedding rites, his picture appeared in a photo album that was among the items seized during the raid of the suspect’s house.

Rolando said he was eventually tagged as a kidnapper because he was a godfather of Villaver.

He said even his father Ruperto, who spent 20 years in prison, was a victim of injustice. He was convicted of kidnapping a Japanese businessman in 1986. The New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, later attributed the kidnapping to an expelled NPA leader, Rolando said.

Rolando said this was the reason why he eluded arrest, coupled with his fear of what would happen to his wife and children if he was to be jailed for crimes he did not do.

He said anyone who would go to Batangas and get to know the Fajardo family would realize “that we are not (criminals). That is not our reputation.”

Rolando said he is facing the cases filed against him in a legal manner and is confident he will be vindicated.