The Philippine National Police is validating reports surrounding the alleged kidnapping of a wife of an American businessman in Makati City last Wednesday (May 9).
Reports said US national Aiko Moore, 27, was aboard a white Honda Civic sedan driven by Benjalyn Norido when their car was hit from behind by a motorcycle along Pasong Tamo St. corner Amorsolo St.
Norido reportedly got off the car to inspect the damage. But three suspects barged their way inside the car and seized them both. The suspects hijacked the car and later called Moore’s husband, James Edward Moore II, a call center executive, demanding a PhP15 million ransom, Makati City Police said.
The reports also said the ransom demand was later lowered to PhP6 million and consequently paid in cash and expensive watches. The victims were released hours later in Marikina City.
PNP Spokesperson Senior Superintended Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) is coordinating closely with Makati and Marikina Police authorities as well as officials of the US Embassy to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the case.
“As of the moment, this particular case in Makati City is yet to be validated as a kidnapping for ransom case,” Cerbo said Thursday (May 10).
Cerbo stressed that there is no surge in kidnapping cases in the country, saying there were a only a total of six kidnapping for ransom cases reported during the four-month period from January to May 2012.
According to the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), there were two incidents reported in Metro Manila in February and May, allegedly by organized crime groups, while the remaining four cases were reported in Southern Philippines perpetrated by alleged terrorist groups, Cerbo said.
Cerbo said the PNP-AKG takes appropriate police action on incidents validated to be kidnapping for ransom cases. While other forms of kidnapping and abduction such as those involving child custody, human trafficking, white slavery, and serious illegal detention are acted upon by local police forces and other operational support units of the PNP.
