The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed that the recent abduction and killing of a Filipino-Chinese businessman is linked to a previously reported kidnapping case.
This information was revealed during the initial case conference held yesterday at Camp Crame, led by the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
In a statement released by the PNP Public Information Office (PIO), authorities said the victims in the recent kidnap-slay case — which resulted in the deaths of a steel magnate and his driver — are specifically linked to a previous abduction incident.
Police did not identify the exact case being linked when asked by DZRH, saying that the matter is still under investigation and subject to backtracking.
In a previous ambush interview, PNP Spokesperson PBGen Jean Fajardo emphasized that the recent incident cannot be classified as a simple kidnapping case.
The PNP earlier confirmed that the bodies discovered in Rodriguez, Rizal belonged to the missing Filipino-Chinese businessman and his driver, who had been missing since March 29.
Fajardo explained that a Special Investigation Task Group has been created, to be led by Chief of the Directorial Staff PLt. Gen. Edgar Okubo, with Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Chief PMGen. Nicolas Torre III designated as the lead investigator in the case.
Authorities are also looking into the possibility that the group behind the kidnapping incident is connected to illegal POGO operations, as well as the involvement of a group of Chinese nationals reportedly using Filipinos as their personnel.
