Kidnapped boy identifies suspect

CEBU CITY — Despite their claims of torture and plea of not guilty, things are not turning up well for the five arrested suspects in the kidnapping of 11-year-old Ryan James Yu.

The other day, Yu, a Grade 5 pupil, positively identified one of the suspects, Edgar Manimog, as one of his kidnappers.

Yu said Manimog was the one who sat beside him inside the white Kia Pride the kidnappers had used as getaway car.

The boy was first snatched by two men on a motorbike in Peace Valley, Lahug while walking to school, and was then delivered to a waiting car.

Yu’s half-brother Marc Gacayan also positively identified Manimog and Jacinto Carnado as the ones who were supposed to accept the P1.5-million ransom money at the Davao City International Airport.

Another suspect, Roberto Galope, meanwhile, might not have told the truth about his presence at the Davao City International Airport where he and the other suspects were arrested.

Galope had told reporters when brought to Cebu City to stand trial with the other suspects that he was at the Davao airport to follow up on his business supplying oil to Pacific Airways.

But a check by The Freeman with the airline proved otherwise.

Carlito Bustamante, supervising mechanic of the airline, told The Freeman in a telephone interview that he does not know Galope.

Bustamante said the airline gets its oil requirements from Pilipinas Shell and not from private individuals.

Aircraft use aviation fuel which is only provided by oil companies and not by individual businessmen.

Galope, Camado, Manimog and brothers Henry and Efren Hernandez pleaded not guilty when arraigned the other day at the Cebu Regional Trial Court. — Freeman News Service