TWO persons have been arrested for the kidnapping-for-ransom of Ateneo de Manila University student James Elijah Yap on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2020.
Philippine National Police Anti Kidnapping Group (AKG) spokesperson Major Ronaldo Lumactod identified the suspects as Rachel Erica Gonzales and Lawrence Liembo.
Yap, 21, was abducted by six men in Barangay Mariana in New Manila, Quezon City in the afternoon of December 31, 2020. He was released on January 5, after the family paid a ransom of P1.5 million.
Gonzales said it was her husband John Paolo Gonzales who used the vehicle that day. She claimed that she was not aware of the crime.
Lumactod said John Paolo is considered as the mastermind of the kidnapping based on the statement of Liembo, who had admitted his participation.
Other suspects were identified by Yap as Emil Mangali Ocampo, Paquito Diaz Gabad and an alias Batman who were at-large as of January 12.
Charges of kidnapping-for-ransom were filed against the suspects.
Lumactod said the suspects initially demanded for P200 million in exchange for the release of the victim. The amount was later decreased to P1.5 million.
“Ang biktima hindi siya ang totoong target, ang target nila isang mayamang tao sa New Manila. It so happened nakita nila si James Elijah Yap nagba-bike pakalat-kalat so no choice na sila kaya nga ang ceiling demand of P200 million, from P200 million through our effort napababa ng napababa ito ng P1.5 million,” said Lumactod.
He said money was released to the suspects on January 5, 2021 in Bustos, Bulacan.
Yap was released in the evening of the same day in Ermita, Manila. (SunStar Philippines)