Kidnappers want P20-M for doctor

The kidnappers of a Caloocan City physician are reportedly demanding P20 million for her release.

Sources said the kidnappers made their demand in a telephone call to the husband of the victim, Susan Nonado. The husband is also a doctor and owner of a hospital in Caloocan City.

Police found Nonado’s Nissan Terrano van abandoned in front of a commercial bank in Pasay City yesterday.

Nonado and her driver were kidnapped along Zabarte Road in Novaliches, Quezon City at 10 p.m. Tuesday while on their way home aboard the Terrano.

Police believe the kidnappers waylaid the Terrano in a dark portion of the street before blocking its path and forcing Nonado and her driver at gunpoint to go with them.

The whereabouts of Nonado and her driver remain unknown.

Police said they are "facing a blank wall" as to the identities of Nonado’s kidnappers.

Sources at Camp Crame tagged yesterday two criminal gangs to be behind the latest wave of kidnappings in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

"These groups, while operating on their own, knew each other," sources said. "Each time one group pulled out a caper, the others follow."

On why the amount of ransom is increasing, sources said kidnap gangs are trying to outdo one another.

Sources gave as example the P100-million ransom demanded for the scions of a wealthy businessman in Makati City, who were kidnapped two weeks ago.

Police have a hard time tracking down the kidnappers because they use 4-wheel-drive vehicles in their getaway and are armed with sophisticated firearms, sources added.

At Malacañang, President Arroyo told reporters she has ordered Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Avelino Cruz "to rewrite" the implementing guidelines on the anti-kidnapping campaign under the Philippine National Police to stop a "turf war" between Task Force Dragon under Director Nestorio Gualberto and the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force under Deputy Director General Hermogenes Ebdane.

"I have rewritten the proposed guidelines for the proposed anti-crime task force," she said. "So when that comes out, then I think whatever turf war there might be, will be clarified." — With Marichu Villanueva