Dismissed cop nabbed for kidnap-slay; victim's body found in septic tank

MANILA, Philippines - A dismissed policeman was arrested on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a businesswoman last January.

Shortly after his arrest, the suspect, Regie Santiago, led authorities to the decomposing body of kidnap victim Leah Ng, which was dumped in a septic tank in an abandoned house in Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna.

Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), said Santiago was linked to the kidnapping for ransom of Ng last Jan. 20 at a restaurant at Corinthian Village in Quezon City.

Nerez said Santiago used to be detailed at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency but was dismissed in 2006 due to drug-related cases.

Ng’s body was brought to the PNP Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame in Quezon City for an autopsy. Santiago is now detained at the AKG detention cell.

In Zamboanga del Sur, kidnappers released unharmed on Wednesday a son of a businessman in Molave town after the family reportedly paid “board and lodging” fee, police said.

The victim, Franc Oliver Lim, 32, who hails from Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, was held in captivity for almost five months, said Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles, Region 9 police director. – With Ed Amoroso, Roel Pareño

Lim was freed at around 1:04 a.m. Wednesday in front of the office of the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative in Molave town. He was fetched by a certain Wendel who subsequently turned him over to local police authorities.

Estilles said police and military forces had been tracking down Lim after he was seized last Oct. 26 in Barangay Gulayon, Dipolog City. – With Ed Amoroso, Roel Pareño