Authorities link BGC teen’s kidnapping to POGO syndicate, vows crackdown

The Presidential Communications Office held a press briefing in Malacanang on 26 February 2025 with DILG Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, Jr., PNP-AKG Director Elmer Ragay, and NCRPO Director Anthony Aberin regarding the kidnapping of a teenager from BGC, which was linked to a POGO-related syndicate. Secretary Remulla revealed that the driver of the kidnapped student was found dead in an abandoned vehicle in Bulacan on 21 February. Authorities suspect that the victim’s family was previously involved in POGO operations, and the perpetrators were former POGO operators who used ex-bodyguards from the AFP and PNP. The kidnappers demanded a $20 million ransom, but the victim’s family refused to pay. The PNP-AKG traced the abductors through mobile signals, leading to the victim’s rescue, though they prioritized saving the child over pursuing the suspects.