Kidnapped teen found dead

MANILA, Philippines - A day after he was snatched by armed men, a teenager was found dead in a vacant lot in Quezon City yesterday.

Jefferson delos Santos, 17, was discovered lying on his belly at a lot owned by Banco Filipino in Barangay Lupang Pangako in Payatas.

Police Officer 2 Anthony Tejerero said the boy had several puncture wounds in the chest and a gash at the back of his head. He also had bruises all over his body, which was found at past 5 a.m. by his mother, Evelyn, who had been searching for him since the night before.

Delos Santos was grabbed by armed men at around 10 p.m. Wednesday while in the company of his employer, Ariel Concepcion, who sells vegetables. Concepcion hired the boy as a helper in gathering vegetables planted at the bank-owned lot.

Concepcion told police he was with the victim the night before aboard his owner-type jeep when four men armed with handguns blocked his vehicle’s path.

One of the suspects trained a flashflight on Concepcion, blinding him and leaving him unable to recognize the men.

One of the armed men also asked the victim if he was Delos Santos. The teenager responded yes and was unable to fight off his three captors, who pulled him out of the vehicle and dragged him away.

One of the men even stayed behind to warn Concepcion to leave the area.

Concepcion then went to the victim’s parents to inform them of the kidnapping.