Another Betti Sy suspect gives up

Journalists are becoming better crime-solvers than the Philippine National Police (PNP), or so it seems now that another suspect in the kidnap-slay of Chinese-Filipino Coca-Cola executive Betti Chua Sy surrendered to television reporter Gus Abelgas instead of to the Parañaque City police.

The level of trust of the PNP dropped as 62-year-old Rodrigo Artoza, alias "Tatang," a native of Manik, Jaro, Leyte now residing in Barangay Sto. Niño, Parañaque City, turned himself in to Abelgas, of ABS-CBN television, rather than Parañaque police chief Superintendent Ronald Estilles.

Artoza, Estilles said, is a member of the Waray-Waray group that hired cab driver Romy Dacallos and his Tamaraw FX mega taxi with plate number VFR-225 for P1,500.

Dacallos’ vehicle was hired by suspects Ramil and Junior Makanip and used in the bungled abduction of Sy.

Estilles also said Artoza arranged transport for four accomplices in the kidnapping from Sampaloc South Side in barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City on Nov. 18, 2003.

However, Artoza pleaded innocent to the accusations against him, saying he had merely referred the cab driver to Ramil and Junior.

"Ramil and Junior came to see me one night and asked if I knew anybody who would rent out a vehicle because they would need one at three o’clock in the morning," Artoza said in Tagalog. The suspects told him they were going to Bulacan province, Artoza said, adding that "after that, I did not know what they were doing."

He admitted he knew the Makanips, having been neighbors with them in their hometown of Jaro, Leyte. He had already moved to Parañaque when the suspects sought his assistance.

From Parañaque City, Artoza went to Nueva Ecija to hide and his last stop was Vigan, Ilocos Sur. "I knew the police were hunting me because I saw it and heard it on television. I was afraid and so I hid," Artoza said.

Despite the suspect’s protestations of innocence, Estilles said Artoza is one of the leaders of the Waray-Waray group. Based on information gathered from Artoza’s neighbors in Parañaque, Artoza had allowed the Makanips to sleep over at his house several times.

He added that Artoza also hosted drinking sessions in his house and would usually entertain well-off visitors.

Police artists rendered Artoza as having a snake with a human head and the letters "BCJ" tattooed on his back.

Artoza was asked to remove his shirt and, when he did so, the tattoo on his back matched the police artist’s sketch.

Sy was killed when she tried to escape her abductors in Quezon City by refusing to alight from her car, prompting the suspects to shoot her.

Her body was wrapped up in the house of suspected Waray-Waray group member Baby Tamayo and later brought to Cavite City, where it was dumped.

Estilles said they had been coordinating with the four members of Artoza’s family — Artoza’s brother, Domingo; sister, Leah; wife, Dominga, and son, Ricky — in convincing the suspect to turn himself in.