A 14-year-old senior high school student of British School Manila (BSM) has been rescued after being kidnapped for nearly a week, but authorities confirmed that his captors mutilated his right pinky finger before abandoning him in Parañaque City.
The victim, who was taken on February 20, was found along Macapagal Avenue on the evening of February 25.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced the rescue on Wednesday, February 26, describing how the kidnappers left the boy behind as police closed in.
“The boy was left by his abductors during a hot pursuit operation in the Parañaque area. The cell phone signal of the captors was a few hundred meters away when they found the boy wearing pajamas on the side of the road,” Remulla said.
However, before authorities could track the suspects, “the signal of the phone disappeared.” More disturbing, however, was the discovery that part of the victim’s right pinky finger had been severed, an apparent act of cruelty meant to intimidate his family.
“The boy was recovered, but his finger had already been cut off,” Remulla confirmed.
The victim was rushed to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City for medical treatment and trauma care. Contrary to initial reports that the student’s family had paid a $20-million ransom, Remulla insisted, “No ransom was paid.”
The student was kidnapped along with their family driver while on the way to school from McKinley East in Bonifacio Global City. There are conflicting reports on the driver’s fate, with unverified claims that he was found dead in Bulacan, though authorities have not confirmed this.
BSM’s Response
BSM acknowledged the incident but asked for privacy. “We are working closely with the family and authorities to support the investigation.
At this time, we do not have further details to share and kindly ask that you avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the family during this difficult time,” said BSM Head of School Martin van der Linde.
Investigating Possible Connections to Organized Crime
Authorities are now investigating whether the crime is connected to organized groups, including those linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). Bureau of Immigration (BI) spokesperson Dana Sandoval confirmed they are assisting in the probe.
“We don’t have information yet, but we are looking into possible foreign involvement and any connections to past abductions,” she said.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, a vocal critic of POGO-related crimes, expressed alarm over the incident. “Despite the President’s ban, POGO operations continue to infest our country, fueling crime and endangering our communities.
This brazen lawlessness must be crushed with absolute force,” he said. He urged authorities to “relentlessly hunt down these remnants of POGO and obliterate their operations.”
Meanwhile, police confirmed that they have identified the kidnappers and are pursuing them. “We know who they are. We know where they are operating from. We will find them. Justice will be served,” Remulla vowed.
Law Enforcement’s Commitment
The Philippine National Police-Southern Police District (PNP-SPD), the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are leading the hunt. PNP Chief Police General Rommel Marbil assured the public that they will not let such crimes go unpunished.
“This rescue is a testament to our police force’s dedication to protecting all individuals within our borders. We will not allow criminal elements to instill fear in our communities,” he said.
“We will continue to strengthen our intelligence-gathering and operational capabilities to prevent similar incidents. The safety of every resident—Filipino or foreign—is our top priority.”
Authorities are now working to capture the perpetrators.
