UP law student foils kidnap try

Three unidentified men tried but failed to abduct a scion of a wealthy Chinese trader inside the campus of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City, yesterday morning.

The failed abduction of Brian Ang Chua, a fourth year UP Law student, was witnessed by other UP students. Several sources at UP Campus told The STAR that Chua was about to park his Ford Lexus in front of the UP Law administration building yesterday morning when three men, armed with M16 rifles, approached his vehicle.

Sensing that something wrong was bound to happen to him. Chua, immediately locked himself inside his car.

Witnesses claimed that the suspects tried to force open Chua’s car but when they failed, they threatened to shoot the law student. But without losing his composure, Chua drove his car in reverse, hitting another car on the other end of the parking lot.

"Nang magpupumilit ang mga lalaki na buksan ang kotse, biglang pinaandar at pinaatras ni Chua ang kanyang sasakyan (When the three men insisted in opening the car’s door, Chua started it and drove in reverse)," witnesses claimed.

Witnesses added that the commotion that followed, forced the suspects to flee aboard an unmarked vehicle.

They added that’s Chua’s aborted abduction highlighted the deteriorating security inside the campus.

"Imagine armed suspects were able to roam around the school campus with M16 rifles without being checked," they said, as they denounced lapses in security inside their campus.

The group also said that it is about time everybody, faculty and students alike, must be vigilant in preventing crimes inside the campus.

Security in the UP campus is handled by the UP police force.

Meanwhile, police investigators are facing a blank wall in the brutal slaying over the weekend of a pub owner and a security guard in Pasig City by four men.

Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig police chief, said his men have not yet established the motive for the killings of Roberto Jacob, 41, and security guard Danilo Palmo, 43, because their relatives, and also witnesses, are still in a state of shock. Sosito said the four suspects identified themselves as policemen before shooting the victims, who were seated at a table near them.

Two others, Marijane Alas-as, 21, and Rodolfo Reyes, 31, were hit by stray bullets. They are now being treated at the Pasig City General Hospital. – Non Alquitran