Case of seized Cavite trader puzzles police

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines—The kidnappers of businessman Benjamin Jaro are demanding P30 million in ransom, authorities on Tuesday said.

Jaro is owner of the Ben Jaro poultry farm in Barangay Alapan II-B in Imus, Cavite. He is also the younger brother of Oscar Jaro, former Imus mayor convicted of graft in 2009.

Senior Supt. Danilo Maligalig, Cavite police director, said the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer), a police unit that deals with kidnap-for-ransom cases, is now handling Jaro’s case, after intelligence reports revealed that the victim has been brought outside Cavite.

Maligalig said authorities have information on where Jaro is being kept but he withheld it for security reasons. He said the kidnappers made the ransom demand over the weekend when they got in touch with the victim’s family.

Jaro was kidnapped on Friday in his poultry farm by four gunmen.

Maligalig said police are studying other possible motives for Jaro’s snatching. He refused to elaborate, however, but gave this question: “If this is just about money, why would they abduct him on a Friday when they knew banks close on weekends?”

“I’m just wondering,” he said.

According to a source, who has knowledge of the family’s businesses, Jaro also owns a swine farm and slaughterhouse, a pawnshop and a gasoline station in Imus.

His brother, Oscar, who was mayor in the late ’90s, was convicted of graft in 2009 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but filed an appeal in court.

A Pacer source said the Jaro family refused to cooperate with investigators.