THE parents of 33 year-old Enrique Fernandez III, allegedly kidnapped by five policemen of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office last October 23, broke their silence on Monday, November 14, and demanded justice for their missing son.
Enrique Fernandez Jr. said his son remained missing and said they do not know if he is still alive or dead.
The elder Fernandez said they reported the incident at the Police Station 4 in Carmen last October 24, a day after the younger Fernandez was reportedly kidnapped based on the closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footages.
The police blotter said the victim was abducted morning of October 23 and forced by armed men to ride inside a Honda Fit vehicle outside Uptown Condotel, Upper Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City.
The older Fernandez confirmed the incident through the CCTV footage obtained by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) from a nearby establishment.
The NBI identified the suspects as Senior Inspector Ereneo Ramirez, chief of the Crime Against Person and Property Desk and his subordinates Police officer 3 Alejandro Ubanan, Senior Police Officer 2 Jojo Lim, Senior Police Officer 1 Alaindelon Tacubao, and Police Officer 2 Hussein Bolanio.
The five suspects have been relieved from their posts and directed to report to the Regional Police Holding and Accounting Office in Camp Vicente Alagar, Lapasan for pending investigation.
The victim's family sought the assistance of the NBI after they became restless due to the seeming lack of urgency in the police investigation.
"Medyo langan ang aksyon sa police busa nagpatabang mi sa NBI kung asa nag action diretso. Pagkakuha sa kopya sa CCTV sa NBI nahibal-an namo nga naay gusto mangayo pud sa kopya pero wala na matagai sa management kay nahatag na sa NBI (The police were delayed so we sought the help of NBI. When we got a copy of the CCTV footage from the NBI, we found out there were people who wanted a copy too but the management didn't give them since it was turned over to NBI)," the older Fernandez said.
Jean Fernandez, the victim's mother, shed tears upon seeing the CCTV footage, which lasted almost an hour.
She said, she saw the suspects were all waiting outside and immediately shoved the victim toward the waiting vehicle.
"Makita sa CCTV nga gibun-og akong anak and gauyog-uyog ang sakyanan posible gikulata gyud sulod sa hapit mag oras before nilakaw ang sakyanan. Ang motor nga dala sa akong anak gisakyan pa sa usa ka suspect (It can be seen on the CCTV that my son was mauled and the vehicle was shaking, possibly he was mauled for almost an hour before the vehicle left. One of the suspects rode on the motorcycle my son brought)," she said.
The parents believed the suspects may have forced the victim to negotiate a possible ransom.
"Posible gipugos nila nga ipa-negotiate para sa kwarta pero wala tingali mosugot akong anak kay wala may tawag among nadawat and basin pud napalabian ba kaha akong anak og namatay simbako lang kay wala namay negotiation (They could have possibly negotiated for money with my son but he didn't push through because we didn't receive any call and maybe he died because there was no negotiation anymore)," the mother said.
The mother said Enrique III was an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and arrived in the city almost a year ago. He was financially supported by his sister and mother and was fond of playing bingo.
The mother said the victim just recently sold a real estate property of considerable worth.
"Pangwarta gyud to ila and naa gyud sila asset nga naka-tip nga naay kwarta akong anak (It was all for money and they have an asset who told them my son had money)," he said.
The parents said the NBI is set to file kidnapping and carnapping charges against the suspects and vowed to not give up the fight until justice is served.
The Fernandez couple said they will not back out despite the clear danger against their safety.
The mother said Philippine National Police officials should disarm and restrict the movement of the suspects at least for the duration of the investigation.
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