Press Release
March 28, 2009

PIMENTEL SLAMS 'BRAZEN' TAGUIG KIDNAPPING

Senator Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. yesterday slammed local government and police officials of Taguig City over the "brazen" March 19 kidnapping of two boys in broad daylight at a checkpoint on C-5 road.

"This is very disturbing and it doesn't speak well of the law and order prevailing in the city," said Pimentel, who stressed the Senate may call an investigation into the incident.

"How can people feel safe in Taguig when, as it turned out, you can be kidnapped there by people dressed as police officers. The brazenness of the kidnapping undertaken at 7 o'clock in the morning on a busy highway is matched only by the ineptness of officials charged to foil or go after them."

Senator Pimentel said that the incident makes a mockery of the well-publicized anti-crime efforts of Taguig City Mayor Sigfredo Tinga, which include the installation of closed circuit cameras in the city.

He stressed that Tinga cannot sell the city to investors as a center of business and commerce if its local government and police officials are seen as helpless in fighting criminality.

Pimentel noted reports that Taguig is also grappling with a very serious drug problem.

"Reports reaching my office tended to show that the police was practically caught napping, so much so that details about the abduction were not known to its operatives."

"The use of police uniforms and checkpoint by the abductors was a slap in the face of law enforcers and Taguig City officials," he said.

While mayors may not have operational control over the police in their respective cities or municipalities, Pimentel said that they are ultimately responsible for everything that happens in their jurisdiction.

The vehicle of the two boys residing in Alabang was flagged down by the kidnappers at the checkpoint, after which it was commandeered by the abductors.

The boys were released after payment of a P1.5 million ransom, according to a police source. Their vehicle was recovered intact in Quezon City.

The kidnap victims were traumatized, said their father on collecting the vehicle from the Quezon City police.

News Latest News Feed