Despite being duped by close to P15 million, a 41-year-old American has refused to press charges against his Filipino girlfriend caught setting up a fake kidnapping to collect another P5 million.
Col. Jonnel Estomo, Anti-Kidnapping Group-Philippine National Police head, said the Filipina admitted the hoax following her “rescue” in a budget hotel in Dagupan City on Saturday.
Police operatives stormed the room and found the Filipina alone.
It was the climax of a series of bizarre incidents that put to the test the American’s love for the 40-year-old Filipina.
The identities of the couple were withheld upon the request of their families.
“It all started when her American boyfriend went to the Philippines in May this year and discovered that their savings in the bank was already emptied,” said Estomo.
The two met in Kuwait four years ago and fell in love, according to Estomo.
When the Filipina went back home for good, the American started sending her money for their savings.
Police said the American was able to send the Filipina a total of $300,000, or approximately P15 million.
The assistance was meant for the Filipina’s daily expenses and for the house they were investing.
The American thought they had at least P5 million savings in the bank, but found out when he arrived last May that only P300 was left of their savings.
Still, the American forgave and let it pass. He invited his girlfriend to come with him in the United States.
The Filipina refused and went missing after burning their house in Caba, La Union.
On Saturday, the AKG-PNP received information that a woman was kidnapped by two men in La Union.
Estomo said the fictitious kidnappers demanded P5 million for the Filipina’s freedom.
AKG spokesman Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno said the American’s daughter from a previous relationship received the ransom demand.
At first, Estomo said they have all reasons to believe that the kidnapping was real since the victim’s boyfriend is an American citizen who had just arrived in the country.
Police finally managed to discover the Filipina’s whereabouts when the American’s family demanded proof of life from the “kidnappers.”
The photo gave police an idea where it was taken and an operation was immediately hatched.
After police stormed the room, however, the policemen sensed something wrong when they found the Filipina and several withdrawal slips.
Without the American’s cooperation, no charges were filed against the Filipina.
It turned out that the American and the Filipina were reunited.
Estomo said this is not the first time that they dealt with kidnap-me cases and kidnapping hoaxes.
“Aside from dealing with hardened criminals involved in kidnap-for-ransom, we are also dealing with bogus kidnapping claims,” said Estomo. (Aaron Recuenco)
