Other Sy kidnappers to fall, GMA vows

President Arroyo vowed yesterday to get the rest of the gang members behind the Nov. 18 kidnapping and death of Coca-Cola Export Corp. executive Betti Chua Sy.

The President issued the statement following the capture last Wednesday of the suspected triggerman in Sy’s killing.

"This demonstrates the effectiveness of our interdiction measures," Mrs. Arroyo said in an official statement issued at Malacañang yesterday. "We will bring justice to kidnap victims and get the rest of the kidnap gangs."

Law enforcement authorities caught Elinzeo Salientes at a road checkpoint near San Juanico Bridge in Barangay Cabawalan, Tacloban City.

During police interrogation, Salientes confessed that he was the one who shot Sy after she was abducted by the group.

PNP Directorate for Operations chief Director Avelino Razon said that the arrest of Salientes has brought back the Filipino-Chinese community’s trust and confidence in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"The Chinese community were very positive and very appreciative of efforts of Secretary Angelo Reyes and the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (Naktaf) in curbing the rise of kidnapping cases," Razon said.

The Filipino-Chinese community was outraged over the kidnap-slay of Sy last November and lambasted the government for its failure to address the alarming kidnap-for-ransom cases in the country.

But Razon said that they have been very supportive and cooperative now since Naktaf assumed full responsibility over the kidnap cases.

"When Naktaf was created, there were several success stories with the neutralization of the Obiles-Yap gang and the arrests of three others in the top wanted list," he said.

Although Salientes was not in the Naktaf’s list, Razon said he belongs to the dreaded Allan Niegas gang, whose leader was also arrested by the Naktaf recently.

Razon also noted that most Filipino-Chinese have also vowed to abide by the PNP’s policy of non-payment of ransom in kidnapping incidents.

"They said they will cooperate fully with the PNP and adhere as much as possible to the policy of "no ransom payment."

The abduction and killing of Sy led to the establishment of police checkpoints and the deployment of police mobile patrols all over Metro Manila, which was later also implemented in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog after several arrests were made and a number of crimes preempted because of tight security measures.

"This drive is an important part of overall public safety and security, which are vital to investments and economic growth," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 2004 elections, sought to highlight the latest success story of her government’s peace and order campaign.

Her administration has been criticized for its weakness in dealing with kidnap-for-ransom and other high-profile crimes.

"I shall continue to provide strong leadership to put an end to heinous crimes and strengthen the economy," the President reassured. — With Christina Mendez