Eleazar orders probe on abduction of six vacationers in Batangas

FILE PHOTO: PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. Screengrab from Facebook / PNP livestream

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Friday ordered a thorough investigation into the abduction of six vacationers in Laurel, Batangas, last October 29.

The PNP’s top leader assured the family of the victims that they will everything to find Mark Nelvin Caraan, Shane Despe, Carlo Fazon, Eugene Noora, Mar Christian Ore, and Paulino Sebastian, and solve the case. He tasked the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group to handle the case.

Eleazar then appealed to anyone who may have information on the incident to immediately report to authorities and help in the investigation.

“Ramdam ko ang pagkabahala ng mga magulang at kaanak ng mga biktima so we assure them that their PNP will do everything in its power to solve this case,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(I feel the anxiety of the parents and family of the victims so we assure them that their PNP will do everything in its power to solve this case.)

Police’s initial investigation indicated that the six individuals were on their way home to Dasmariñas City, Cavite, from a vacation in Lian, Batangas, when armed men stopped and forcibly opened their vehicle along Tagaytay-Nasugbu Road on October 29.

Police also said they found the van abandoned in a forested area in Barangay Bunggo, Calamba City in Laguna.

Batangas police chief Capt. Errol Frejas said in a Teleradyo interview on Thursday that the suspects’ getaway vehicle used a fake plate number.

KGA