2 eyed in kidnap of 6 in Batangas

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Police are eyeing a Chinese and a drug suspect as persons of interest in the kidnapping of six individuals in Laurel, Batangas on Friday.

One of the victims was allegedly romantically involved with the Chinese, while another has a previous drug record, according to Capt. Errol Frejas, town police chief.

Frejas told The STAR that probers are reviewing footage of four closed-circuit televison cameras (CCTVs) installed at the scene of the incident.

“Probers are also checking the background of the victims, hoping this would give them leads in locating them and in solving the case,” Frejas said.

Two of the victims, identified as Perly Lape and Ma. Jennelyn Bauya, escaped from their captors and reported the incident to the police.

The other victims were identified as Mark Neil Caraan, Shane Despe, Carlo Fazon, Mar Christian Ore, Eugene Noora and Paulino Sebastian, all of Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Families of the victims have received calls that bodies were found in Cavite and nearby areas, Frejas said, adding the information all turned out false.

“The calls were meant to mislead the investigation,” he said.

Aside from the kidnappings in Laurel, another man was seized by unidentified men on the same day in nearby Lemery town.