Police identifies persons of interest behind abduction of 34-year-old man in Batangas

The Batangas Police Provincial Office (PPO) said that it had identified some persons of interest linked to the abduction of a 34-year-old man in Lian town earlier this month.

According to Andrew Bernardo’s report on GMA Regional TV “Balitang Southern Tagalog”, Batangas PNP Intelligence unit said continuous investigations for the whereabouts of Rodrigo Catibog are still ongoing.

Catibog was abducted by armed men and has remained missing for over two weeks now.

The victim’s live-in girlfriend said they were on board a motorcycle to fetch someone in a nearby town when armed men suddenly blocked their way and abducted him.

Asked if police were involved in the abduction, Batangas PPO officer-in-charge Police Colonel Pedro Soliba said there should be a “legal basis” to prove the matter.

Lian Police Station chief Police Major Jeffrey Dallo earlier said they are looking into the victim’s involvement in several crimes as the possible motive for abduction.

However, the victim’s family maintained that Catibog was not involved in any illegal activities.

Meanwhile, deputy provincial for administration Police Lieutenant Colonel Palaleo Addag said that news about a series of abductions in Batangas were “fake news.”

“Siguro may tao lang talaga na walang magawa at gustong manggulo at magpapansin. Pero under ng cyber law titingnan natin kung paano malalaman kung sino man ang [nagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon] at kung mamarapatin mag-file tayo ng kaso. Para hindi na nila ulitin kasi nakakabahala po ito,” Addag said.

(Maybe there is just someone who has nothing to do and wants to cause trouble and attract attention. But under the cyber law we will look at how to find out who is spreading the false information and if necessary file appropriate charges so that they don’t repeat it because it’s disturbing.) —Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News