3rd cop in Caloocan kidnap try eludes pursuers

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are still searching for the third policeman allegedly involved in the botched kidnapping of a Chinese man in Caloocan City on Sept. 9.

Police Officer 2 Ariel Aguilar, assigned at the Guiginto police station in Bulacan, was confirmed to have been hiding in Valenzuela City, Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Ariel Arcinas said recently.

“Our personnel missed him but we are following several leads. He has not come home to his house in Tondo, Manila. As of now he is AWOL (absent without official leave),” he said.

Aguilar reportedly drove a white Honda Civic (ATA-888) they used to snatch Lin Han Zhang last Sept. 9 and bring him to the Malolos, Bulacan police station, where they reportedly demanded P8 million from him in exchange for not being jailed on drug charges.

He escaped from his kidnappers and was found wandering in a golf course in Intramuros, Manila hours later.

The Manila Police District (MPD) general assignment and investigation section said its personnel are also tracking down Aguilar “but he is proving to be slippery.”

Arcinas said they are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies “to get the suspect and finally close the case.”

Earlier, two Malolos policemen who were initially tagged in the botched kidnapping of Lin surrendered to Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Edgar Layon.

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. last Tuesday. – Rey Galupo