Director mum on reason behind abduction of workers

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

DAGUPAN CITY – It’s outside his authority to investigate if the abduction of his two personnel had connection with the failed ambush of a trader, the Director of the Region 1 Medical Center told reporters in a recent press conference he called.

BEG - A weeping wife and a sister, and a somber son of one of the two kidnapped victims who begged Director Roland Mejia of the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City to intercede for the breakthrough of the whereabouts of their love one.   Rizaldy Decano and John Mark Poyaon, both of legal age, and employees of the R1MC were abducted last March 12 by six masked men wielding automatic assault rifles.

“Well gaya ng sinabi ni attorney itong mga connection hindi na tayo mag-iimibistiga you better tell that doon sa mga imbestigadors,” Director Joseph Roland Mejia explained when asked by a radio reporter.

The businessman was ambushed last early February while Rizaldy Decano and John Mark Poyaon, both of legal age, were allegedly kidnapped March 12 by six  bonnet wearing men wielding automatic assault rifles at AB Fernandez Avenue.

Mejia said that the law enforcement agencies have already leads on the investigation but they will not divulge them to the media.

“Lumabas may mga lead na doon sila pero wala pa silang sinasabi”.

The National Bureau of Investigation, this city’s police force, and the Criminal Investigation Detection Group are investigating the abduction.

 According to the spot report of the police here that about 7:40 am of March 12 the duo, who were more than 30 years old, were on board a single black motorcycle Yamaha Mio with plate number 2667AT and traveling to the eastern part of AB Fernandez Avenue here when a gold colored Starex van with plate number CSX 312 blocked their way and where six armed men forced them to board in the vehicle that abruptly sped toward East AB Fernandez Avenue.

A source who asked anonymity said that Poyaon used to be the body guard of Filipino Indian trader Kiram “Raja” Mirchandani who was ambushed to a gruesome death by assault rifles firing men at Castro Sarmiento Village in barangay Bolosan in August 2014.

Action Radyo's reporter Ahikam D. Pasion said that Poyaon was complained through a blotter to this city’s police last December for grave threat when he aimed a handgun to the complainant.

Mejia said that Decano and Poyaon’s abduction were not connected to narcotics because his entire employee at the R1MC undergone random drug testing.

Kidnapped victims Rizaldy Decano and
 John Mark Poyaon

“None of my workforce dito sa drugs. May random drug testing, pag positive ang empleyado dismiss. Two na na find out positive dismiss in cooperation with President Duterte (war on drugs) and Civil Service Law. Kung merong drug related person pupunta na po ang PDEA dito kasi we are in coordination with PDEA”.

The director denounced the dastardly act against his two personnel as it happened before the rush hour.

“Broad daylight armado naka bonnet, maraming nakakita dahil rush hours and they carried high powered firearms,” he decried.

The duo, who resided in Barangay Lucao here, have been working as nursing aide but insider at the R1MC said that they did security details at the hospital.

Decano, Mejia said, worked at the R1MC for five years while Poyaon, 34, was hired last February 24 only.