Trader’s cousin is kidnap suspect, wants to yield

The alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of businessman Teoderico Ozaeta, who is his own cousin, sent surrender feelers to the National Bureau of Investigation over the weekend because he feared for his life, according to the agent on case.

NBI Senior Agent Jonathan Ross Galicia said that evidence like closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, a vehicle used in the abduction and firearms recovered from two members of the group that abducted Ozaeta were connected to Walter Ozaeta, tagged by the arrested suspects as the mastermind of the abduction of his cousin.

Galicia said a bank’s CCTV showed Walter in the vicinity of the abduction when it happened.

“He was in a sport utility vehicle giving orders and coordinating the kidnapping of his cousin,” Galicia said.

He said one of the vehicles used by the kidnappers when Ozaeta was taken from the parking lot of South supermarket in Lipa City was found in the garage of Walter’s house.

The firearms were recovered from suspects Boy Francis Quimko and Rammel Relos who also served as bodyguards of Ozaeta.

“Previous owners of the guns had appeared here and issued sworn statements that the guns had been sold to one of the suspects,” Galicia said.

Text messages between Walter and the two suspects would also form part of the evidence against them, Galicia added.

He said Walter had sent surrender feelers to the NBI but the operation to arrest him continued.

“We received information he wants to surrender for fear of his life,” Galicia said.