Tiu kidnap suspects’ escape plan aborted

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Six Chinese nationals detained for the kidnapping-for-ransom of 29-year-old Jackie Rowena Tiu had planned to escape before the first hearing last July 19, the regional police director disclosed.

Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao said the Fookien-speaking Chinese reportedly asked their cell head or mayor to assist them in their escape by sawing the grills of their cell window.

But the mayor, Lomibao said, tipped off the jail warden about the plan, prompting La Union Gov. Victor Ortega, who has jurisdiction over jail operations, to transfer the six Chinese accused from the provincial jail to the Bauang district jail.

Earlier, Tiu reportedly requested Lomibao to check reports that jail officials had allowed the six Chinese to go outside the jail for supposed medical check-ups.

These reports also prompted Lomibao to call for the detainees’ transfer.

Last Aug. 14, a detainee at the provincial jail, one Ernesto Mata, escaped after he was allowed to go out for a dental check-up.

Early this month, two Chinese nationals visited their six detained compatriots but were sent away by the jail management after finding out that the two were undocumented aliens,

Lomibao said the six indicted Chinese were themselves undocumented aliens who temporarily resided in Bacoor, Cavite but transferred here several months before the abduction of Tiu.

The other day, Tiu took the witness stand to identify her kidnappers.

She pointed to Shi Chun Qi, alias Jacky Sy Ocampo; Zhang Xi Wang, alias Michael Zhang; Xu You Kwang, alias Tony Co and Johnny Chua Co; Shi Jian Hui, alias Jacky King Sy; Lim Jiang Feng, alias Jason Lim; Wu Chang; and Zhang Du, alias Wilson Zhang, as the men who abducted her on Sept. 27 last year. Zhang Du is out on bail.

Tiu was released eight days after her father paid P10 million to her kidnappers who initially had demanded $2 million.

President Arroyo was here the other day to give moral support to Tiu. She, however, was convinced not to attend the trial because it might be misinterpreted as interference with the judicial process or an attempt to pressure the judge.