Malaysian's P12-M ransom disappears from MPD custody

MANILA, Philippines –  Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered the Manila Police District yesterday to investigate how P12.1 million, part of a P16.3-million ransom paid by a kidnapped Malaysian businessman, disappeared from the MPD’s custody.

Lim called for a meeting yesterday with MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla, deputy director Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez, his chief of staff and media bureau chief Ric de Guzman and MPD Station 5 Commander Superintendent Felipe Cazon.

Cazon’s men supposedly recovered only P4.2 million out of the total P16.3-million ransom paid by businessman Eric Sim Chin Tong, who owns a metal recycling business in Malabon City.

Lim said one of the suspects told him that when police raided his hotel room, the P16.3 million was in a bag. “The bag was full,” he quoted the suspect as having said.

Lim said “when the police officers entered the room, they asked where the money was. (The suspect) pointed at the bag, then the police put it on the table. Then they put a bag on the suspect’s head. What does this mean? That is why there is a massive investigation.” He also said no inventory of the money was made.

He said he had recommended a spot promotion for all the police officers who worked on the case, but now expressed regret that what would have been a commendable achievement by Cazon and his men turned into a big disappointment.

Lim said that whatever is confiscated from the scene of a raid must be listed down and that the inventory must be signed by the person from whom such things were seized.

Among those arrested for Tong’s kidnap were Tong’s live-in partner, his secretary, and his live-in partner’s ex-boyfriend, the alleged mastermind.