Kidnapped Indian rescued

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – An Angeles City-based Indian national, who was kidnapped for ransom in Tarlac, was rescued in this capital town last Wednesday from his abductors’ hideaway in a mountain resort.

Police said the victim, Harjinder Singh, 34, was seized last Monday morning while cruising in Bamban, Tarlac on board his Hyundai car. His kidnappers had demanded P10-million ransom for his release.

A joint team of the Villaverde and Bayombong municipal police, 208th Provincial Mobile Group, Provincial Special Operations Group and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group found Singh handcuffed to a tree at the Natividad Resort in Masoc village here.

Superintendent Domingo Lucas, officer-in-charge of the provincial police, said they were scheduled to formally turn over Singh to the Police Action Center for Emergency Response (PACER) at Camp Crame yesterday.

“The PACER wants to see if the suspects are the same ones or have links with other KFR (kidnap-for-ransom) members in Luzon victimizing Indian nationals,” Lucas said.

Policemen from Angeles City and Tarlac arrived here yesterday to help in the investigation.

Singh’s kidnapping, according to Lucas, was uncovered when Villaverde policemen tried to help two men aboard a Hyundai car who figured in an accident in remote Sitio Labbunan in Barangay Ibung, Villaverde town. 

The lawmen, however, became suspicious when the two men, later identified as Ernesto Martin and Daniel de la Cruz, both of Capas, Tarlac, could not present papers proving ownership of the car.

“The two claimed that they were only test-driving the car but could not show (papers). Later, when we learned that the car belongs to Harjinder Singh of Angeles City, we immediately detained them. After intense interrogation, they informed us of the whereabouts of the owner,” said Inspector Noel Libunao, Villaverde police chief.

The two men then led police to Natividad Resort where they chanced upon the caretaker, Johnny Wilson, whom they invited for questioning, along with a certain Benjamin Ladia.

The police scoured the area until they found Singh handcuffed to a tree near the resort’s main compound.

“It was the result of both luck and good work that we were able to recover and save the Indian national,” Lucas said.

Police quoted Singh as saying that his abductors, armed with small firearms, had communicated with his wife via cellular phone to demand P10 million for his release.

Investigation showed that Martin and De la Cruz, along with certain Paul Flores and Boyet, brought Singh here.

However, Flores and Boyet were able to escape the police dragnet, while Wilson, Martin and De la Cruz were taken into police custody.

“Probably, the payoff might have been consummated here had we not discovered the incident, which led to the arrest of three of the suspects,” Lucas said. “We will look into this matter and see if there are other people involved. We assure you, no one will be spared.”

This was the second ransom kidnapping of an Indian national in the province in three months.

Police said a child of an Indian couple who was kidnapped in the Ilocos region was kept here by the abductors. The child was later released after the parents reportedly paid millions of pesos in ransom.    – With Ric Sapnu