Kidnapping yarn sends jitters to traders; places City in 'negative atmosphere'

By Ronilo L. Pamonag

A kidnapping incident allegedly involving high-ranking police officials which a local daily reported and vehemently denied by the police and the family of the alleged victim has made the business community jittery and placed the city in a ‘negative atmosphere.'

“This really gave a negative atmosphere for the City, and this gave a wrong signal and alarm, I'm sure, to the members of the business community, especially the Chinese community, and of course our fellow Ilonggos,” City Police Director, Sr. Supt. Norlito Bautista said during Saturday morning's press conference, referring to the report of a journalist that came out Wednesday last week.

The report claimed that ‘credible sources' told him that a son of a businessman was kidnapped in the early part of this year.

According to the report, the family of the alleged kidnap victim paid P4 million, with about P1.4 million going to an unnamed general and colonel as ‘ pabaon.'

Bautista said that he talked to his operatives about the alleged kidnapping, but was told that there was no such incident as reported.

“There is no evidence that will show that a kidnapping took place,” he stressed.

Mayor Jerry Treñas and Bautista then presented to the media businessman Jose Santos, the father of the alleged kidnap victim Kim. Santos owns a gasoline station and a car repair center, among others.

Although the report does not mention Santos , the latter believes that it is him and his family that is being referred.

That never happened to us, Santos told reporters, adding, “ Iloilo is a peaceful City.”

The last kidnapping incident happened about two years ago, when a minor son of a trader was snatched on the way home. The victim was released unharmed, the ransom recovered and the suspects now facing charges in court.

Since then, there has been kidnapping, Bautista insisted.

Probe

Treñas said that they would dig deeper into how the report came about.

“Once we will know who's behind this (report), then we will know what the motive is,” the mayor stressed.

He said that it is impossible that a member of the business community would be kidnapped without the police and the local government knowing it, said the mayor, himself a businessman.