4 probed for disappearance of pharma firm CEO

MANILA, Philippines — Four persons are being investigated by police for the disappearance of a chief executive officer (CEO) of a pharmaceutical company in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig last month.

One of the persons of interest was the CEO’s driver who was with him at the time he went missing on July 19, according to a source.

The insider said the CEO was in a newly bought Toyota Land Cruiser when he met with his personal assistant.

The assistant gave the pharmaceutical executive P5.7 million in cash and two branded watches, which the CEO asked to be delivered to him.

What got the attention of police probers, according to the source, is that the CEO’s driver was not familiar with his assistant.

“Pati mga employees niya hindi kilala,” the source said in an interview.

The insider did not give further details about the three other people who are under probe.

The source said the CEO was supposed to meet three persons, two women and a man, but the pharmaceutical executive canceled the meeting for reasons unknown.

Based on video footage, the source said there was no indication that the CEO was under threat.

It is unclear where the pharmaceutical executive and his driver went before his burned vehicle was found in San Luis, Pampanga, with its doors missing.

Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police, said the Anti-Kidnapping Group is looking into good leads. She declined to go into specifics.

“May mga nakukuha naman na leads and hopefully sa mga darating na araw ay magkakaroon ng resolution itong kaso na ito,” she said in a radio interview.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption president Arsenio Evangelista said the disappearance of the CEO could have been done by the suspects in less than 24 hours.

Evangelista said the suspects may have taken the vehicle’s parts in Apalit, which is known for the sale of spare parts of stolen cars.

“Ang theory ko dito baka nanghinayang ‘yung mga binigyan,” he said.

Evangelista appealed to lawmakers to craft a law creating a government agency that would probe cases of missing persons.