ATTENTION CAR DEALERS

The PNP called on car dealers to observe measures to avoid being victimized by criminal groups.

Highway Patrol Group (HPG) director Chief Superintendent Leonardo Evangelista advised car dealers not to entertain evening test drives and always do the test drive with companions.

“We advise car dealers to always be with a companion during test drives, require an authentic identification card from the buyer, do the test drive only in places they are familiar with, and avoid evening test drives,” Espina said, adding that car traders must be careful in allowing test drives.

He expressed belief that the suspects used the test drive as a modus operandi to bait the car dealers to allow them to take the car. – With Edu Punay, Ding Cervantes, Ric Sapnu, Manny Galvez

KIDNAP UPDATE

Ex-Marine, daughter abducted near Manila

By TERESA CEROJANO – 11 hours ago

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Gunmen kidnapped a retired U.S. Marine
and his daughter from their Philippine home, but released the former
serviceman three hours later after demanding a ransom for his daughter,
police said Monday.

Four armed men barged Sunday night into the
house of Filipino-American Ver Loyola in the resort city of Tagaytay,
south of Manila, tied up his wife and maid, and then drove away with
Loyola and his 19-year-old daughter, Cristina, a regional police report
said.

The assailants also took two cell phones, assorted jewelry worth $1,570 and $1,900 in cash, the report said.

Three
hours later, the kidnappers abandoned Loyola and the car in a nearby
town but demanded a ransom for the daughter, a police official said on
condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details
with the media.

He said the kidnappers were demanding $67,400 for her release.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in the Philippines, but more often occur in the violence-torn south.

Police
officials say they have neutralized most kidnapping gangs in Manila and
nearby provinces, with only a handful still operating.

Earlier
this month, police filed kidnapping and murder charges against a police
officer who allegedly confessed he abducted a retired pilot and his
driver near Tagaytay. The victims were later found dead.

—update just a few minutes— NAGBAYAD

KIDNAPPING

last night, july 20, 2008, the house of former City Budget Officer, Precy Loyola, was broken in by criminal elements, and their daughter taken at an undisclosed place in Pangil, Amadeo. Ransom demand starts at P3M.

Any assistance to solve this crime is solicited.