Tarlac trader’s kin doubt if he’s still alive

TARLAC CITY — Relatives of a Chinese-Filipino hardware owner who was snatched here last Wednesday have expressed doubts whether he is still alive after his abductors failed to show "proof of life."

A source close to the family of the victim, Ricardo Sy, 51, revealed that the kidnappers phoned his family to demand a P20-million ransom but refused to put him on the line as assurance that he was still alive.

"We are not discounting the possibility that Ric Sy did not survive the ordeal...and despite this, the kidnappers still want money," the source said.

Sy, according to the source, is suffering from a heart ailment and underwent surgery on his spine a few months ago.

The source said Sy’s family asked the kidnappers to buy some medicines for his heart illness. But they retorted: "Ayaw uminom ng gamot, matigas ang ulo (He refuses to take the medicine; he’s hard-headed)."

"That’s, of course, very unlikely," the source added.

To make matters worse for the Sys, two different sets of callers have contacted the family, each claiming they were holding the businessman hostage.

"It is apparent that another group of criminals wants to make money out of this unfortunate incident," the source said.

Police themselves are facing a blank wall on who could be behind the kidnapping, but suspect that they were the ones responsible for abductions in the North since no organized kidnap-for-ransom group operates in Tarlac.

Probers believe that Sy’s abductors are "professionals" and may even be discharged soldiers and policemen and former security guards.

Sy, who owns the US Lumber and Hardware, and his wife were on their way home when a white Mitsubishi Lancer rammed their Starex van at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Witnesses said one of the four kidnappers then hit Sy with the butt of a gun on the nape, sending him unconscious to the pavement. A second kidnapper punched his wife twice on the shoulder, as the two others lifted Sy and placed him inside the Lancer’s compartment.

They then fled toward Pangasinan, passing through the Romulo Highway. They later dumped Sy’s wife.

Meanwhile, Sy’s relatives belied reports (not in The STAR) that he also owns a garments factory.

They blamed the erroneous reports for the stiff ransom Sy’s abductors have demanded.

According to Sy’s acquaintances, he started out as a helper for another lumber and hardware store also owned by a Chinese-Filipino.

With his savings, Sy, they said, was able to send his children to school and put up his own lumber and hardware store.

Even if the Sys could pay ransom, the source said they could only shell out P2 million.