Search on for kidnappers of American's wife

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City police is hot on the heels of the kidnappers of an American businessman’s wife, who was released after her husband paid P6 million and watches as ransom, an official said yesterday.

Acting city police chief Superintendent Jaime Santos said investigators are going to show victim Aiko Moore, 27; and her husband James Edward Moore, 31, “photos of suspects who have been previously arrested.”

According to Santos, the suspects in their “rogues gallery” have allegedly employed the same style as the kidnappers of Aiko and her driver, Benjalin Norido, 23.

Santos described the incident not as a kidnapping but more of an abduction-robbery case.

“I find this case strange, as part of the ransom are three expensive watches. This could be an abduction-robbery case rather than kidnapping,” he added.

Santos said Aiko and Norido were kidnapped after their vehicle was hit from behind by a motorcycle in Makati City.

They were released at Barangay San Roque in Marikina City after the ransom, which included two Rolex watches and a Breitling watch worth P3.2 million, was delivered.

Police later recovered Aiko’s car at the Marikina River Bank.