Cops eye drug angle in Pasay disappearances

MANILA, Philippines — Police officers are checking if the disappearance of seven persons in Pasay City could be connected to the illegal drug trade, an official said yesterday.

According to the initial investigation by the Special Investigation Task Group created to look into the alleged kidnappings, seven not nine as earlier reported persons were reportedly involved in drug deals, said Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, National Capital Region Police Office chief.

While previous reports identified the missing persons, Sinas refused to name them. He said Col. Bernard Yang, city police chief, talked to the victims’ relatives and they reportedly told him the victims had drug deals.

Sinas said they are still checking if the missing persons are on their drug watchlist.

“Four of the victims are known to each other, also the three others. We have closed-circuit television footages showing that the victims did not offer resistance when they boarded two vehicles, a van and a car,” Yang said.

“One group is using an online business involving shoes as their front in dealing illegal drugs,” Yang said. He believes the victims were kidnapped because they shortchanged their supplier.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Ronnie Montejo, director of the Quezon City Police District, denied reports that there are 10 missing teenagers in his jurisdiction.

He reported to Mayor Joy Belmonte that their investigation showed that the teenagers left home for various reasons but returned home after two to three days.

“Their parents failed to inform police so it appeared that they are still missing,” Montejo said.  

Man slain in Quezon City

A drug offender who was released from prison on Oct. 28 was shot dead in Quezon City on Monday.

Raul Navarro, 47, was walking along Olivas street in Barangay Pasong Tamo when the assailant attacked him at around 3:40 p.m.

The assailant pulled out a handgun and shot Navarro multiple times before fleeing on foot. The victim died at the scene.

Five bullet casings, a deformed slug and four sachets of shabu were recovered by probers at the scene.

Probers are looking into the victim’s background to determine if it is related to his murder.