February 28, 2001, Inquirer, Police rescue kidnapped Tsinoy sisters,

February 28, 2001, Inquirer, Police rescue kidnapped Tsinoy sisters, 

SARIAYA, Quezon -- Lawmen rescued two kidnap victims in Barangay Janagdong I here around 9 p.m., Friday night, a police officer here said.

Senior Supt. Charlemagne Alejandrino identified the victims as Josefina Chua and Susan Casano, both of Pili, Camarines Sur.

Another victim, Salvacion "Basyon" Tan, was earlier released by her kidnappers on the night of Feb. 22 after her relatives allegedly paid ransom money amounting to P4.8 million, he said.

Alejandrino said both Chua and Casano were shackled when found by members of the Quezon provincial police, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and the Camarines Sur police.

The victims were seized in Barangay Magsaysay, Naga City, by unidentified men armed with .45-cal. pistols on Jan. 30.

Alejandrino said the victims were brought to Barangay Janagdong I and held in captivity for 24 days.

Intelligence reports earlier gathered by Alejandrino’s men revealed that the victims were being kept in Barangay Dalahican, a coastal village in Lucena City.

"Tan coordinated with us and it was she (Tan) who led the way to Chua and Casano," Alejandrino said.

Janagdong I is situated a few kilometers from Barangay Bignay where 365 kilos of smuggled shabu were recovered by policemen last year.

Tan and Chua belong to the wealthy Co Say family of Pili, Camarines Sur, while Casano is an employee of the family.

The Co Say family businesses deal with basic commodities, like rice, sugar and coconut oil.

The kidnapping of Tan, Chua and Casano is reportedly the third incident involving wealthy Chinese-Filipinos in Camarines Sur.

Police authorities have lamented that previous kidnappings had never been reported to them.

"I hope relatives of kidnap victims will cooperate with us in case this kind of incident will crop up again, for the early solution of the crime and without paying any ransom," said Chief Supt. Marcelo Navarro Jr., Bicol police chief. Navarro had earlier ordered the Camarines Sur police to join the hunt for the kidnappers and their victims.
-- Juan Escandor Jr. PDI Southern Luzon Bureau