‘Dismissed, active cops, soldiers involved in kidnap cases’

MANILA, Philippines — Civic leader Teresita Ang-See yesterday expressed belief that some dismissed and active personnel from the police and military are involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities.

Ang-See, founder of the Movement for the Restoration of Peace and Order, said former and active police officers and soldiers work as bodyguards for Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs.

“We discovered that they moonlight as bodyguards and drivers for POGOs,” she said in a phone interview.

After President Marcos banned POGOs, Ang-See said rogue police officers and soldiers turned to kidnapping to fund their lavish lifestyle.

Ang-See cited a case in Southern Luzon where a foreigner was kidnapped by two dismissed police officers and an active policeman.

The kidnappers released the victim after paying ransom money, she said.

According to Ang-See, the foreigner was hesitant to file charges against the suspects as “he fears for his safety.”

She cited another kidnapping case where three of the suspects were dismissed police officers, one of whom was an official.

On Tuesday, a Quezon City court convicted three of the seven suspects for kidnapping a 78-year-old businesswoman.

Three of the suspects were former members of the military.