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Sunday, July 23, 2006
No kidnap gangs in Cebu, say cops, but business bloc frets
CEBU CITY -- Local leaders are worried about the implications to the business sector of last Friday's kidnapping of the 20-year-old scion of an affluent Cebuano family.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) raised its concern a day after Robert Philip Urgello, 20, was kidnapped early Friday morning and released barely two hours later.
Jose Ng, PCCI-Visayas vice president, said in an interview over radio dyLA that the incident indicates businessmen are no longer that safe in Cebu.
Ng worries that investors might shy away from the city, adding that Urgello's case was already the second kidnapping in Cebu City this year.
"Things like this are happening here now. I am urging the police to be very vigilant and to secure the people," he said.
A Manila-based businessman who has properties in Cebu was allegedly kidnapped last March. But the payoff was foiled when the police busted four men at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Support
Ng reminded the police that the business sector gave equipment and continues to support the improvement of police stations. In exchange, they expect better services from the authorities.
He said even if Urgello was immediately released and no ransom was paid, the truth remains that a kidnapping occurred, which is not good for the business community.
Acting Cebu City Police Director Melvin Gayotin, however, assured the safety of the business sector and declared that there are no kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups in the city.
He also advised the community not to worry and that Cebu City is safe from kidnappers.
As this developed, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (CIIB) Chief Pablo Labra II said they still couldn't tell if the abduction was intended as a kidnap-for-ransom.
Labra also said they are still looking into the motive.
Cooperation
In a radio report, Labra said they will invite Urgello's two classmates to help in the investigation.
The statements of Urgello's classmates, whom he was to meet before he was forced into a car by two men, will be of great help to the investigation.
Labra also credited Urgello's family for their cooperation, saying their trust enabled the police to alert all units in Metro Cebu about the incident swiftly.
Urgello, a fourth year nursing student, went to Chong Hua Hospital last Friday to drop off a group report he had made because he was planning to skip school that day.
As Urgello waited in his car, two men approached him and told him to get inside a gray Honda City where his classmates were said to be waiting for him.
Because Urgello refused, the two men forced him out and pushed him inside the other car.
He was released two hours later in Mandaue City.
Dragnet
Urgello said he told his captors he was very sick and suffered from asthma.
If Urgello's pleading did not work on his captors, Labra believes the dragnet that was quickly set up all over Cebu made them decide to release him.
Barely 15 minutes after the incident, news of the abduction was already out on AM radio. Urgello heard it while being transported by his captors.
Checkpoints were quickly established throughout Metro Cebu.
"I want to think that the dragnets scared them. It might be a reason they released him," Labra said. He also emphasized the family's cooperation.
Cebu City Councilor Sylvan "Jack" Jakosalem echoed this observation.
"These were important contributing factors in the quick release of the victim. Unlike in Manila, they keep quiet and wait for the call from the kidnappers and the public only knows about it after the release and after the ransom is paid. Mao na mo-gara ang KFR didto (That's why kidnap-for-ransom gangs thrive there)," he said.
Police are now looking for five men who were behind the abduction.
Two men had coaxed Urgello and later forced him into a car, another drove the car and two others were in the safehouse.
As soon as Urgello is well enough to talk to investigators, Labra said they also hope to ask him more questions.
After meeting his parents and talking to investigators of the CIIB, Urgello was brought to a hospital for a check-up. His captors had fed him corned beef and rice.
Labra admitted that they still found puzzling the fact that Urgello was released.
But he is glad that Urgello only had minor scratches, which he got from the struggle.
The family has also expressed their preference for a security detail, though they have yet to formalize their request. (Jovy S. Taghoy and Mia E. Abellana)
(July 23, 2006 issue)
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