PNP rescues kidnapped Japanese businessman, 3 suspects arrested

Anti-kidnapping operatives arrested three men last week for the abduction of a Japanese businessman, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Bato dela Rosa said on Tuesday.

Dela Rosa said members of the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), with help from the Japanese Embassy, successfully rescued on Thursday Yuji Nakajima, 32, and a certain Vergel Lumague in Plaridel, Bulacan.

The arrested suspects were identified as brothers Roberto Reyes and Reggie Reyes, and a Japanese man identified as Miyashita Takashi. Police said the suspects were arrested in separate police operations in Santolan, Pasig City and in Parañaque City.

AKG chief Sr. Supt. Glenn Dumlao said Nakajima, a businessman, was apparently set up to be kidnapped by his former business partner, Yusoke Obara, who according to police, also accompanied the victim when he arrived in the Philippines on March 22.

“Parang sinubo nung kaibigan niya kasi business partner sila and allegedly nagkaroon sila ng rift sa business. So isinubo siya,” Dumlao said in a press conference at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

(It appeared that [Nakajima’s] friend set him up to be kidnapped because they were business partners and allegedly had a rift in business.)

Dumlao said that the Reyes brothers fetched Nakajima from the hotel where he was staying and told him that Miyashita had wanted to talk to him. Nakajima, who did not know the suspects, then called Yusoke to verify their identities and was later advised by his friend to go with the suspects.

The AKG chief said the suspects then detained Nakajima at a house in Plaridel.

Dumlao said authorities are still hunting down two more Filipino suspects while Japanese authorities are tracking down Yusoke.

The arrested suspects are now facing kidnapping charges, Dumlao said.   /muf