Kidnapped Chinoy freed?

BATANGAS — Authorities could not confirm reports circulating here that a 37-year-old Chinese-Filipino businessman who was abducted last Jan. 7 had been freed after his family paid a P500,000 ransom.

A police source, however, said the family of Chan Lin Loy, also known as Joseph Chan, of Rosario town, paid the ransom two days after the abduction.

The payoff, the source said, was done along the South Tollway Arterial Road going toward Talisay town.

"The ransom money was left inside a car parked in the vicinity and the (kidnappers) successfully escaped after the drop-off," the source said.

But the reports, including one that Chan is said to be now in Metro Manila, hiding from his abductors, could not be confirmed because his family had refused to cooperate with authorities. — Arnell Ozaeta