Wong slay suspect claims innocence

The prime suspect in the kidnap-slaying of Filipino-Chinese businesswoman Connie Yap Wong and Manila policeman Dionisio Borca Jr. has denied any complicity in the case.

Frederick Valencia, alleged leader of the Red Scorpion Group (RSG) kidnap gang, told police investigators that he would have gone into hiding if he were guilty.

Valencia tagged remnants of the Sarabia Gang as the probable perpetrators.

Accompanied by a journalist, Valencia surrendered to Camp Crame authorities Thursday as a police manhunt for him intensified following the kidnapping and murder of Wong and Borca.

"I gave myself up to clear my name. If I were the real mastermind, I should have gone into hiding," Valencia argued.

Police probers are now looking into the veracity of his alibis. "We are checking and counter-checking his allegations," a ranking police official said, adding that despite Valencia’s explanations, he remained a prime suspect.

Valencia has yet to be presented in a police line-up for identification by a vital witness, Arcangel Barquilla, driver of Wong who claimed he was also snatched by the kidnappers of his boss and Borca.

Barquilla alleged that he was handcuffed to Borca when their captors executed Wong and the policeman.

Barquilla said the kidnappers also tried to shoot him in the head, but the gun jammed and he was simply left unharmed.

It was still unclear, however, how he was able to undo the handcuff and free himself before seeking the help of local residents in reporting the crime to the police.

The witness said they were traveling at Barangay Manresa in Quezon City early Monday morning aboard Wong’s Mitsubishi Adventure van when two other vans, an Isuzu Hi-Lander van and a Toyota Revo, both without license plates, intercepted them at the intersection of Matutum and Mauban streets.

Heavily armed men commandeered Wong’s vehicle, blindfolded the victims, and drove off to an undisclosed hideout where Wong was ordered to contact her family through her cellular phone and arrange for ransom payment.

When the negotiations bogged down, the abductors herded the three hostages back to the vehicles and drove to Barangay Bignay in Valenzuela City where Wong and Borca were shot in the head,

Wong was the sister of Robert Cheng, owner of Uratex Foam Corp. whose daughter Mary Grace Cheng-Rogasas was also snatched, along with her driver Dionisio Borca Sr., and bodyguard Val Torres, by armed men last June 18 at the University of the Philippines compound in Diliman, Quezon City.

The three were reportedly released 15 hours later amid rumors of a P20-million ransom payment.

Meanwhile, a kidnapped 27-year-old daughter of the owner of a chain of department and grocery stores in Metro Manila was reportedly released on Friday following payment of P3 million in ransom.

The victim, Grace Ong, safely returned home alone, showing up at the family residence in Makati City after she was freed at an undisclosed place.

Sketchy reports indicated that Ong was driving her car somewhere in Makati when she was snatched. It was the second attack on her.

Last Sept. 26, kidnappers reportedly tried to seize her while she was traveling along the national highway in San Pablo City in Laguna.

Her driver rammed the car that blocked their way, effectively foiling the kidnap attempt.

In another development, militant anti-crime advocates urged law enforcers to intensify their campaign against kidnapping syndicates, saying abductions have been on the rise anew.

Benjamin Chua, Dante Go and Teresita Ang-See issued the call during an emergency meeting convened by Superintendent Carlos Holganza, executive director of the National Anti-Crime Commission, to tackle the current spate of kidnapping incidents.

The group pointed out that at least six kidnapping incidents took place in a span of eight days.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao however assured the people that the Philippine National Police maintained its all-out campaign against organized crime.

Tiglao noted that new kidnap groups, including those organized by foreign nationals, appeared to be behind some of the kidnappings. — With Marichu Villanueva