2 cops in kidnap try surrender

MANILA, Philippines - Two Malolos, Bulacan policemen, tagged in the botched kidnapping of a Chinese man last Tuesday, surrendered to Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Edgar Layon before dawn yesterday.

Accompanied by Malolos police chief Superintendent Donato Bait, Police Officer 1 Danilo Sytamco Jr. and Police Officer 3 Zerzes Martin were taken into custody at around 4 a.m.

Caloocan police chief of police Senior Superintendent Ariel Arcinas did not give the details of the surrender but told The STAR that it was just a matter of time before the two were captured.

He identified the third man involved in the kidnapping as Police Officer 2 Ariel Aguilar, who reportedly drove the vehicle used in the kidnapping of Lin Han Zhang. Aguilar is assigned to the Guiguinto, Bulacan police, he said.

Arcinas said the Caloocan police has launched a manhunt for Aguilar and is coordinating with the Guiguinto police for his capture.

He added that the Manila Police District, which initiated the case, will also help because Aguilar reportedly lives in Tondo.

Lin was found wandering in the Intramuros golf course by a security guard hours after armed men snatched him from the Light Rail Transit station in Monumento, Caloocan last Sept. 8.

He was reportedly taken to the Malolos police station, where he was asked to cough up P8 million or face drug charges. Sytamco and Martin are with the Malolos police’s anti-drug unit.

Lin told Manila police investigators he escaped when his captors fell asleep.