Bodyguard of 4 kidnapped Chinese surrenders

MANILA, Philippines — The driver and bodyguard of four Chinese women who were kidnapped and robbed, reportedly by police officers, in Parañaque last year surrendered to House Deputy Majority Floor Leader Erwin Tulfo Thursday morning.

Tulfo said he turned over Michael Novecio to Sta. Rosa, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, who chairs the House committee on public order and safety that is investigating the kidnapping in aid of legislation.

Novecio “said he watched our hearing recently so he decided to surrender to our office. He said he does not know who is his enemy and a group of Chinese and a group of policemen are after him,” Tulfo said.

He added that Novecio claimed the police officers – who belonged to the Southern Police District’s Detective and Special Operations Unit (SPD-DSOU) – forced him to be their informant.

Last Jan. 30, the House panel issued a warrant for Novecio’s arrest over his continued refusal to appear for hearings on the kidnapping.

Fernandez added that he instructed House secretary general Reginald Velasco to provide protection to Novecio.

Fernandez said Novecio’s surrender would ensure the “smoother and speedy investigation” of the case in Congress.

Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop said the four Chinese were accosted and arrested by the police officers in September last year.

Dang Lina, Hu Yi, Ling Lang Ping and Li Huanhuan were reportedly detained without being informed of their alleged offense and were not allowed to contact their lawyer, according to Acop, who filed the resolution to investigate the incident.

He alleged that at the SPD-DSOU, the Chinese women were told to pay P2 million each for their release.

According to earlier reports, National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said 44 SPD-DSOU and Parañaque police officers were directly involved in the incident.