P500,000 ransom paid for Cavite trader’s release

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna — Just three days after an Indian trader was seized in Imus, Cavite and freed in exchange for P500,000 ransom, another businessman was kidnapped Thursday night in General Mariano Alvarez (GMA) town, police said.

Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas, Laguna police director, said the victim, Rolando Reyes, 39, who is engaged in the lechon manok business, was subsequently released by his captors after his family shelled out P500,000.

According to a police report, Reyes, together with his two male helpers, was cruising the highway in Barangay Virata, GMA town on board an AUV when three ski mask-wearing men riding in a Toyota Corolla blocked his path at about 10:45 p.m.

The masked men dragged Reyes at gunpoint to their vehicle and sped away, leaving the businessman’s two helpers behind. The two promptly reported the incident to the GMA and San Pedro, Laguna police stations.

A few hours later, Reyes’ wife received a phone call from her husband’s kidnappers, demanding P1 million as ransom.

Reyes’ wife, according to Rojas, appealed to the kidnappers to lower the amount to P300,000, but they declined. They subsequently agreed to P500,000 and Mrs. Reyes was advised to wait for instructions on the payoff.

Police said Mrs. Reyes finally got a phone call at about 10 a.m. the next day and was instructed to proceed to the Pacita Complex.

While Mrs. Reyes was waiting at the complex’s parking lot, two motorcycle-riding men appeared from nowhere and snatched her bag containing the P500,000.

At about 5 p.m., the kidnappers informed Reyes’ family that he had been released unharmed in Barangay Bancal in Carmona, Cavite, police said.

Police were investigating reports that Reyes’ kidnappers were police personnel who "arrested" him on supposed drug charges.