Bulacan trader abducted in QC

Unidentified gunmen abducted yesterday morning a Bulacan-based businessman in front of a hospital in Quezon City, The STAR learned.

The gunmen snatched businessman Jimmy Go and his driver, Ermie Revilla, at around 10 a.m. while they were cruising along Dahlia street near the Far Eastern University Hospital in Fairview when the suspects, who were on board an Isuzu Highlander Asian Utility Vehicle, blocked their path.

At gunpoint, the suspects dragged the two victims to the Highlander.

The suspects released the driver a few kilometers later. Revilla promptly went to the Central Police District-Station 5 to report the abduction.

Sources at the station said the businessman was freed six hours later. It was not known if any ransom was paid. Police refused to talk any further about the incident.

The incident was the fourth kidnapping case reported to authorities in the last three weeks. The other day, a businessman was kidnapped in San Jose, Batangas.

Citizens Action Against Crime (CAAC) spokeswoman Teresita Ang-See expressed concern about the new kidnapping incident, saying that kidnap gangs are again operating, despite a recent police operation which busted what authorities believe to be a ‘core group’ responsible for many kidnap-for-ransom incidents in Metro Manila and adjacent towns.

"This is the fourth kidnapping case coming to our attention in the last two weeks," Ang-See told The STAR. "The kidnap gangs are as fearless as ever."

Meanwhile, the political career of a 21-year-old Paco, Manila Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman was violently cut short when he was stabbed dead by three unidentified men in Sta. Ana, the other night.

Western Police District homicide investigators identified the victim as Gerald Mallari, of 1811 Interior 94, Barrio Sta. Maria, Pedro Gil St., Paco.

Investigation showed that the victim was riding a bicycle home at about 8:30 p.m after visiting his girlfriend in Lamayan street in Sta. Ana when he reached a bridge in Barrio Kapampangan.

Police said that upon reaching the bridge, the victim accidentally bumped the three suspects, triggering an argument. The argument later led to a fistfight.

During the fistfight, one of the three suspects drew a knife and stabbed the victim several times in the chest. The suspects quickly escaped on foot leaving the victim lying on the pavement.

Bystanders rushed Mallari to the Saint Claire’s Medical Center but he was declared dead on arrival. Police are still tracking down the three unidentified suspects. – Romel Bagares and Mike Frialde