'It's a miracle that he came home alive,' counsel of kidnap victim says
His ordeal may already be over after five days of captivity yet for the family of kidnapped victim William Lim, the worst is yet to be over and the trauma lingers. It was also a miracle to see him alive with what the family through counsel insists, was a no-ransom liberty.
This, lawyer Noel Amane told The News Today (TNT) when reached for official statement in behalf of his client. The details of the kidnapping, as he disclosed, moved to clarify earlier reports picked up by the local media.
And it remains to be a "harrowing experience" for the Lim family, he continued while adding that to date, members of the Lim household are undergoing medical check.
The youngest of the Lim siblings, William was picked up Tuesday evening after a gym work-out along the darkened portion of Quezon and Ledesma Streets. He was alone and unarmed. Nothing surprising for this Filipino-Chinese businessman who Amane said, belonged to a "low profile Filipino-Chinese family."
"It was least expected and really a surprise," the family counsel added saying no earlier threats nor attempts were made to his client or any member of the Lim clan.
Ransom was asked allegedly at P20 million then down to P10 million, back to P9 million and last offer at P10 million. Yet on the fourth day as the kidnapping broke out and intelligence community were alerted, Amane believed that pressure was too much for the suspects to bear reason that the release was made. Amane confirmed that agents of the Presidential Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) were also on the job.
This, as he expressed apologies for the family's uncooperative stance.
"They want to overcome this and go back to their normal lives. Maybe that is the same reason they closed themselves to the authorities because the investigation is adding pressure to them," he continued.
Mayor Jerry Treñas reportedly made an offer to provide the Lim family with security. One offer his clients are inclined to accept, Amane said.
The family counsel denied that any former employee was involved. The suspects, his client shared, were all male and "karay-a speaking" with the supposed mastermind speaking in halting Tagalog as well. Though he was physically manhandled in between his captivity, William, Amane shared, was given food and water. They are looking at six suspects, the identities he said are yet to be known with the kidnapped victim kept blindfold and head covered with a sack the entire time.
He was later released and left by the roadside in northern Iloilo where he reportedly sought help from locals. With allegedly no ransom paid, Amane said what was lost to the kidnappers were his client's wristwatch, "And it's not really a Rolex, just a regular watch," he quipped, his belt, some cash and P15,000 taken from the victim's ATM.
DUBIOUS
Meanwhile, PNP Director for Western Visayas Chief Supt. Geary Barias said the Filipino-Chinese community in Iloilo doubted the alleged kidnapping of Lim last week.
Barias, in a radio interview said, he was informed by Iloilo City Police Director S/Supt. Norlito Bautista of the Chinese community's reaction over the alleged Lim kidnapping when the latter and Mayor Jerry Treñas had a meeting with the members of the Chinese community.
Barias said they (Chinese) have doubts on the alleged kidnapping of Lim.
"They (kidnappers) could have had a bigger target other than Lim if it was indeed a case of a kidnap for ransom," he said.
Barias added he is still waiting the report of the Philippine Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) as Lim's family refuses to cooperate with the police.
ON TOP OF SITUATION
Meanwhile, Mayor Jerry Treñas expressed disappointment on the failure of the police intelligence community to monitor the alleged kidnapping. He fears that the alleged kidnapping could affect business in the city.
Trenas said he will never allow it to happen again or does not want kidnapping to happen in his turf.
The mayor said, he tried to get in touch with Lim and his family to personally know about the incident but they (Lim family) refused to cooperate.
However, Treñas said, the police is still on the top of the situation.
Meantime, tightened security is up anew on Filipino-Chinese businessmen here amidst the scare brought by this latest kidnap incident. Police were also highly visible particularly on the city's business district as alarm was sent out on schools with 'kidnappables."