SPD says Makati abduction incidents have different suspects

MANILA — The Southern Police District (SPD) on Tuesday said that the three abduction incidents in Makati City involving a 21-year-old female student; a 19-year-old transgender and a 14-year-old have different suspects based on the reports submitted by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG).

”The alleged abduction committed in Makati City, disclosed that no serial rapist and/or series of pattern based on the reports submitted by the respective SITG Team leaders. Suspects in the alleged abduction committed against the 21 yr old female student along EDSA Magallanes on September 30, 2014; the 19 year old transgender committed sometime in September 2013 and the 14 year old grade 9 student are of different suspects,” SPD Director Chief Supt. Henry Rañola said, adding that was based on the investigation conducted by the SITG headed by Sr. Supt. Edgar Dana, Deputy District Director for Operations (DDDO) and concurrent Chief of the SPD Directorial Staff.

Rañola said that continuous follow-up operation, case build-up and extensive investigation are still being undertaken by the Special Investigation Task Group and further developments relative to the cases will be released as soon as obtained.

Rañola said the SITG was able to identify the alleged abductor of the 14 year old, female student through the CCTV cameras installed in the areas where the vehicle driven by the suspect passed by.

The CCTV clips revealed the plate number of the alleged vehicle that led to the identification of the alleged suspect identified as Jarin Hidalgo, 34, residing at M. H. Del Pilar St., Brgy. Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

He said the victim, assisted by her mother, appeared and positively identified the suspect during investigation at the Makati City Police Station on November 13, 2014.

During the investigation the minor victim admitted that she was never forced by the suspect to board the vehicle, but agreed to go with him after the suspect promised to return her shortly after guiding him to Rockwell which contradicts her earlier statement where she claimed that she was forcibly taken and thereafter jumped out of the vehicle while at Petron Gasoline Station along JP Rizal to escape from the suspect. However, victim admitted that suspects touched her private parts.

Rañola said that on Monday a case has already been filed before the Makati City Prosecutors Office against Hidalgo for forcible abduction and acts of lasciviousness in relation to RA 7610.

He explained that a case of forcible abduction is filed because “Physical resistance in this case need not be demonstrated to show that the taking was against her will. The employment of deception suffices to constitute the forcible taking, especially since the victim is an unsuspecting young girl”.

On the other hand, the alleged abduction against the 19 year old transgender which was reported on September 5, 2013 at the Makati CPS has something to do with a Robbery-hold-up that transpired on September 4, 2013 at about 10:00 am at EDSA Magallanes, Makati City.

The suspects took away the victim’s bag, Experia cellphone and cash money. According to him, he was abducted at said place and time by suspects aboard a colored dark blue van where he was molested inside the vehicle, robbed and was dropped off in a place near SM Bicutan.

Complainant was invited by the Makati CPS in order to conduct re-enactment of the robbery incident to verify the exact location where the victim was abducted and dropped off.

However, mother of the complainant informed the team that her son does not want to remember the incident. Complainant was also asked to give facial descriptions of the suspects but he claimed that he cannot remember the facial descriptions since he was instructed to bow down his head while inside the van. The team is continuously coordinating with the victim and his family.

Meanwhile, for the 21-year old female student, who was abducted while she was walking along EDSA Magallanes at about 6:48 p.m. on September 30, 2014 when four unidentified malefactors on board a neon colored hi-ace van with “for Registration” plate grabbed her and let her board inside the vehicle.

Once inside, one of the unidentified malefactors gagged her face with handkerchief that made her feel dizzy and lose consciousness. When she woke up, she was already in Malolos, Bulacan.

The SITG Team together with the victim proceeded to the crime scene for reenactment of the incident.

The team also conducted backtracking in the places where the victim was brought from Magallanes, Makati to Malolos, Bulacan, then to Monumento, Caloocan City to validate her claims and scour the areas for possible CCTV coverage.