Two men face kidnapping charges for taking Indian moneylender

CEBU, Philippines - Two men have been charged with kidnapping with serious illegal detention and carnapping before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office yesterday for allegedly detaining an Indian National and taking his money and motorcycle.

Davinder Singh filed charges against Lito Fuentes, Victor Fuentes, Danilo Fuentes, Erwin Padura, Leovince Acapulco, Solomon Rogelio and Nelson Tumapoy for supposedly kidnapping him last July 29.

But only two of the respondents: Victor Fuentes of barangay Liboo, Ronda town, and Nelson Tumapoy, alias “Bulantoy”, were indicted after investigating prosecutor Maria Luisa Ong found probable cause to indict them of the crime.

Singh said that last July 29, he was at Julie’s Bakeshop in barangay Taloot, Argao town, collecting daily payments for his usury business when four unidentified men approached him and introduced themselves as members of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.

One of them ordered him to get on a white vehicle parked in front of the bakeshop purposely to proceed to the Argao Police Station to supposedly verify his documents.

As Singh boarded the vehicle Tumapoy took over his motorcycle and drove it.

One barangay tanod saw the incident but did not interfere as he thought that they were policemen.

Singh said that the men took his motorcycle and P30,000 cash from his wallet.

At about 8 p.m. that same day, Singh said he was blindfolded, tied up and taken to a place he did not know.

He said he was rescued by two barangay tanods only July 31.

According to the tanods, while they were walking towards a copra drying house on July 31, they saw three men, one of whom was later identified as Victor Fuentes, taking Singh out of the drying house.

Singh told them that he was kidnapped and the suspects were arrested by the police. — Jasmin R. Uy/BRP    (FREEMAN NEWS)