Crime gangs tagged in abduction

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Police suspect that criminal syndicates were behind the reported abduction of 11 people by camouflage-wearing armed men in Calauan town last week.

Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal, Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) police director, said there were no clear indications that New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were in the area.

He said there are no NPA-influenced or -infested communities in Calauan although rebels are known to operate in adjoining towns.

Caringal has ordered Senior Superintendent Edwin Corvera, Laguna police director, to probe deeper on the reported abduction. Investigators in Batangas are similarly looking into the incident.

In his report to Caringal, Corvera said the reported victims included a Makati City policeman, an owner of a Calamba City beerhouse, an operator of an FX taxi which some of those abducted were riding in, a construction worker and a company driver.

Sources said the group was on their way to San Pablo City to recruit receptionists for the Calamba beerhouse when about 20 armed men stopped them in a checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Balayhangin, Calauan town at about 8:45 p.m.