The driver of the 14-year old kidnap victim was confirmed to have been working with the abductors before he was found dead in Bulacan, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday.
Remulla confirmed that the body recovered in San Rafael, Bulacan, belonged to the driver of the victim.
The vehicle he was last seen in was the second car used in the abduction, following the initial getaway vehicle, a Ford Everest, which was abandoned on a C5 flyover in Taguig, the DILG chief told ABS-CBN.
Remulla said evidence taken from the driver’s mobile phone showed that he was part of the syndicate behind the crime.
He said that the driver had only been employed for about a month by the victim’s family before the incident.
“They didn’t know him. He was very, very new,” Remulla said.
Authorities are investigating why the suspects killed the driver despite his alleged involvement in the crime.
Remulla suggested that he may have been eliminated to prevent him from becoming a primary suspect.
The abduction came to light when the victim texted his father, questioning why they were taking an unfamiliar route out of Bonifacio Global City.
Shortly after, the victim was transferred to another vehicle along with the driver.
Remulla said investigators believe the driver was killed within six hours of the kidnapping.
He said one of the four leaders of the syndicate was able to escape during a police operation in Central Luzon.
“We were on a stakeout last night, somewhere in Central Luzon. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to corner him. He had escaped by the time we arrived,” said Remulla.
In an earlier briefing, Remulla said the suspects are linked to POGO-related criminal networks.
“We are certain that the syndicate behind this abduction consists of former POGO operators and their former security personnel,” Remulla said.