This statement by the father of kidnapped Ateneo student Bea Mata was released to Coconuts Manila and we are reprinting it here in full. You can also read the statement of Bea Mata here.
My name is Brian Benedict A. Mata, 48 years old, Filipino, Married and a resident of Quezon City, Philippines.
I hereby make the following statement to the best of my knowledge based on the facts and actual events that transpired with regard to the kidnapping of my daughter, Beatrice “Bea” M. Mata inside the Ateneo Campus on November 21, 2013.
At around 7:00pm of November 21, 2013, my wife Betsy and I were having our dinner inside SM North EDSA and we thought of checking up on our daughter Bea if she had already come home from school.
Our Bea is a 20 year old, 4th year college student of the Ateneo de Manila School of Humanities. She is due to graduate in March of next year. Early that day, I learned that she is just supposed to submit a paper to school and that she will be driving by herself…I would always encourage her to drive at every opportunity to hone her driving skills.
Betsy called Bea’s cellphone but it just kept ringing. Bea would not answer. She tried again several times and still no luck. A few minutes later, Betsy’s cellphone started ringing. It was Bea calling. Betsy immediately answered the call and said “Hello!”,“Hello!”. But Bea was not responding.
Betsy told me that there was some background noise, as if her cellphone number was just accidentally pressed. “Hello Bea”, “Hello Bea”,“Hello”, she kept saying but there was no voice on the other end. “Only background noise”, she said and the line was suddenly disconnected.
I tried to call Bea as well but just the same, her phone kept ringing and no answer. I just thought that her phone might be in her bag and that she was busy doing other things.
We then finished with our meal and had started to walk to our car which was parked at the SM North parking structure.
At about 8:00pm, as we were crossing the bridge way to the car park, Betsy’s phone rang again.
“It’s Bea calling again”, she said. Betsy immediately answered the call and it was Bea whom she can barely hear as it was noisy in the car park and the signal was choppy. It was a very short conversation. Betsy told me that Bea needed money and she had asked us to come to Xavier Hall which is inside Ateneo.
I thought to myself that that call was very strange. We quickly got into our car and headed our way to Ateneo. Traffic was a mess that night especially at the Quezon Memorial Circle.
When we entered C.P. Garcia street in U.P. at around 8:30pm, Betsy got a text from a person with cell number (0999) 160 2363 who would claim to be a professor of Bea.
These were the actual text exchanges between Betsy and the professor:
Professor: “san na po kayo mam betsy? Ur daughter askd me to text u,im dale po, prof nya”
Betsy then immediately texted a reply: “East avenue. She is not answering her phone. Is anything wrong?”
There was no text reply from the professor and so Betsy decided to call this “Professor Dale” instead.
The professor answered the call and Betsy tried to get more information about Bea. He seemed helpful as if he was doing us a kind favor by relaying messages purportedly from Bea. Betsy even thanked him for his help before ending the call. By this time, the traffic had already lighten up and in minutes, we were inside Ateneo campus and proceeded to park our car at the parking strip fronting Xavier Hall.
We started to look for Bea and her car, a 2011 Hyundai Accent, Black color with plate no. TAQ-825. There was no sign of Bea and the car. I tried to call Bea’s number several times to no avail. It just kept ringing. No answer. We decided to drive around campus to try to look for her and her car, but they were nowhere to be found. She had been missing for more than two hours already.
We again parked our car in front of Xavier Hall and sought the assistance of a guard on duty. We informed him about our missing daughter and gave a description of her car. He began to radio the other guards for them to check inside the parking lots. “Negative Sir”, he said. There was no sign of the car.
I tried calling Bea’s number again and this time it did not ring as if it had been turned-off.
Betsy called again the number of Professor Dale and tried to get more information. I then asked Betsy if I could speak to the professor and she handed me her cellphone. I introduced myself as the Beas’s father. I asked professor Dale his last name and he said something like Quimeron or Quimerol. “It’s Professor Dale Quimerol” he said. This guy sounded like a young educated man by the way he talks and possibly in his 20’s or early 30’s. I asked him what subject he taught and he said Basic Writing. He seemed very helpful but could not give further information other than the fact that Bea has been contacting him. I thanked him and ended the call shortly.
A series of text messages from professor Dale followed and Betsy decided to call the professor again. This time professor Dale was saying something about Bea being taken by bad men. As she heard this from the professor, she suddenly gave the phone to me. I asked professor Dale if he saw Bea that day and the approximate time. He said that it was about 18-20 minutes before he texted my wife. I asked where he saw Bea last and he answered – “at Xavier Hall”.
He said that as he was coming out of the building, Bea approached him and tried to borrow money from him. I asked how much? He said 50 thousand. He said that he told Bea that he did not have that kind of money and that he did not earn that kind of money. I asked again if he saw the car she was driving. “Yes”, “the black car”, he replied. “Where was it parked?” I asked. “In front of Xavier Hall”, he answered.
I already sensed something askew with this guy. First, it is prohibited for students to park in front of Xavier Hall. Second, how did this guy know what car Bea drove when Bea was the one who supposedly approached him on foot to ask for money. Third, that according to him, Bea had been asking him to relay messages to us. Why would Bea do that?
I then asked him if Bea told him what the money is for. “Bea didn’t say” he replied but she looked in distress and desperate. “So what did you do after that, you just walked away?”, I asked. “You saw your student looking desperate trying to borrow 50 thousand pesos from you”, I said. “That’s a lot of money!” I added. Didn’t you bother to ask what it’s for and what her problem was? Didn’t you even try to help her? Didn’t you try to get more information? What did you do? You just walked away? What kind a professor are you?! Now you’re saying that she still continues to ask you to relay messages to us?” I asked.
I suddenly lost my temper and blurted, “Putang ina mo, nasa’n ang anak ko?! “Mr. Mata, I am quite offended with your words”, he replied. I then said, “You were the last person who saw my daughter, pag may nangyari sa anak ko, putang ina mo mananagot ka!”
He suddenly hanged up. I was angry, helpless, clueless on what had happened to my daughter. We would later learn from Bea’s classmates that there is no such Professor Dale Quimerol in Ateneo or a Basic English subject in her course.
By this time, a few students were already converging at Xavier and my wife Betsy started to ask them if they know Bea. Some of them know Bea as classmate or orgmate and they became concerned when Betsy told them that she was missing. They then started to call mutual friends via text and tapped social media for information about Bea.
I must have called Bea’s number [number deleted] more than a dozen times. Again and again, only ringing, no answer.
Still at Xavier Hall at around 9:31 pm, I texted Bea’s number and the message was: “bea please call me now”. There was no reply.
Then, at around 10:03 pm, I received a text from Bea’s cellphone which read: “papa 250000 for me cubbao jolibee”
This was followed by another text a minute later (10:04pm), still from Bea’s cellphone which read: “Alone”
I could not believe what I was reading. My heart was pounding. I then realized that my daughter had been taken against her will. I knew then that it was not Bea doing the texting but her kidnappers.
I calmly composed a text reply and at 10:09pm, sent it to Bea’s cellphone number. It read: “nakuha ko message mo. wala akong ganitong pera. huwag niyong saktan anak ko. Wait lang tingnan ko kung anong magawa ko.
Minutes later, at around 10:13pm, I received a text reply which came again from Bea’s cellphone which read: “Alone”.
This was the last text message that I will ever receive from Bea’s phone that night.
I then called my wife who was still talking to the students at Xavier Hall entrance. I squeezed her hand tightly and whispered to her ear, “Bea has been kidnapped, It’s confirmed”. I then showed her the text messages and the ransom demand I got. She would then inform me that she was shown a similar message earlier that was forwarded by one of Bea’s classmates. We dismissed it later as a “wrong send” as her kidnappers may not have been familiar on the use of her type of phone and mistakenly sent a message to one of her directory contacts. We were both terrified but I told Betsy to keep calm and pray.
My mind became clear. My daughter’s life is at stake. I needed to act. I needed to focus and think on how best to deal with this crisis.
I began to call family members and I informed them about the situation. I asked them to spread the word to our circle. A few minutes later, my brother in-law called and advised me that a friend from the military will be calling me to assist. True enough, seconds later, my cellphone was ringing and was flashing an unknown number. I immediately answered the call. “Is this Brian?”, He asked. “Yes Sir, who’s this?” I asked. “This is your brother in-law’s friend from the military”, he said with an assuring voice.
“Yes Sir, thank you so much for calling,” I said. What should we do Sir?, I asked. He then instructed me to text him the cellphone number of Bea and that they will try to trace it. I thanked him for his help and he promised to get back to me with any information ASAP. I immediately texted Bea’s cell phone number and gave the description of her car. It was already around 10:30pm, still in front of Xavier Hall.
Shortly thereafter, my relatives began arriving at Xavier Hall and we were told to proceed to Camp Karingal which is the police outfit that has jurisdiction over Ateneo. As part of protocol, we were asked to file a kidnapping report that will be their basis to make an official endorsement to properly turn-over the case to the Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) based in Camp Crame. The AKG is the official police outfit responsible for all kidnapping cases.
While waiting for the said endorsement at Camp Karingal which was at about 10:56pm, I received a text message.
The text message contained real time information on the coordinates such as latitude, longtitude of Bea’s cellphone number as well as the nearest landmark and location which stated 7-Eleven Store along JP Rizal cor Bayan-Bayanan Ave, Brgy Conception Uno, Marikina City, MM.
I then got a call from our military friend who asked me to confirm if I received the text message he sent. I said yes and thanked him again for it. He then instructed me to give this information to the AKG at Crame and he will give updates as developments warrant.
My heart began to race as I realized that I just received vital information on the possible location of Bea. I then decided to forward the information via text to my nephew. I would later learn that my nephew would forward the same information to my cousin who lives in Marikina for them to check it out. Also, I would later learn that my cousin would be able to come across Bea’s car that was roaming around the vicinity and subsequently tail the car while riding his motorcycle. He would bravely and carefully tail the car while keeping a safe distance and he would later confirm Bea’s presence inside the car along with her abductors. He would then be able to give us real time information on their movements within Marikina.
We finally secured the endorsement document from Camp Karingal and proceeded immediately to the AKG at Camp Crame. We arrived at the AKG compound and were met by our relatives and several AKG operatives. We were then led to a conference room on the 2nd floor of the main building where AKG personnel will be conducting a preliminary briefing and info gathering on the circumstances surrounding Bea’s kidnapping. They then proceeded to get information from myself and my wife.
While inside the conference room, I received a text from cell number 0933 133 3648 (which I would later designate as Kidnapper 2 or K2). I asked to be excused from the briefing room and started to walk alone towards the parking lot where it was quiet.
The following were the exact text exchanges between myself and Kidnapper 2:
11:24pm – K2: anu na mr, mata?
11:26pm – Me: pasensya na 30T palang ang nalikom ko. Sinusubukan ko pang magutang. Pwede ko bang makausap anak sandali? Saan ba tayo magkita?
11:28pm – K2: mr,mata wag m0ng ilagay ang anak m sa alanganin, ang sbi naming eh al0ne ka dapat
11:29pm – Me: opo alone ako
11:36pm – Me: baka pwede tayong magusap pare ama ka rin naman siguro. hirap lang akong mag raise ng pera. pasensya na pare ko.
11:39pm – K2: mr.mata ayaw namin ng paikutan, pera lang kailangan namin at makikita mo ulit anak m, eto number tawagan m 0939 889 0990, pagkatapos ihanda m na pera
I figured right away that the given number belongs to the person holding Bea captive and that Bea is in a different location. I had to call this number to find out if she is alright, my proof of life.
11:40pm – I called the given number 0939 889 0990 (which I would later designate as the number of K4) and our conversation went this way:
Me: Hello Sir
K4: Sino to?
Me: Si Mr. Mata eto. Pare ko, easy lang tayo. Pagusapan natin eto. Pare koy huwag niyo sanang sasaktan anak ko. Pare ko meron ka din sigurong anak o kapatid na babae. Pare ko ingatan mo sana anak ko, may sakit yan, may asthma yan pare ko at kelangan niya ng gamot at baka atakihin. Pare koy maawa ka sana sa anak ko.
K4: Mr. Mata,… pera lang kelangan namin.
Me: Pare ko sa tanag buhay ko di ko pa nahawakan ang perang hinihingi niyo. meron ako ditong nalikom na 30 thousand. Ihatid ko na sa iyo ito pare ko, magkita na tayo. Magkaliwaan na tayo at kalimutan na natin eto. Simpleng tao lang ako pare ko. Pag-usapan natin ito. Magpapasko pare ko.
Suddenly the line was cut-off.
11:42pm – I immediately redialled K4’s number.
Me: Hello Pare ko, naputol. Pare pakiusap lang. Pwede ko bang makausap ang anak ko. Baka pwede siyang makausap at kamustahin ko lang sana kalagayan niya. please lang pare ko.
K4: Sandali… (there was a long pause)
Then a faint voice of a girl, uttered “Papa”…“Papa”. It was Bea.
My heart was shattered realizing her situation but felt a sense of relief as I finally heard my Bea’s voice. “Bea how are you?”, I asked. “Papa, I am okay”, she replied. “Did they hurt you?”, I asked. “No Papa, I’m cooperating”, she replied with a calm voice.” Ok Bea, just stay calm, pray”, I said. “We’ll do everything we can to get you okay?” I added. “Ok Papa”, she replied. I was about to ask her some more questions but Kidnapper 4 suddenly cut me off and said “ano mr. mata, ihanda mo na pera!” and abruptly ended the call. I tried to dial the number again but could no longer connect.
I then thought of dialing the number of “professor dale” or K1 that Betsy wrote on a piece of paper earlier. It was 11:46pm.
A different voice answered this time. “Hello, hello, sino ‘to?” he said.
I then thought that it wasn’t “professor dale” who sounded young. This voice sounded more mature. It sounded more like K4.
Me: Hello Pare koy, si Mr. Mata eto, ano pare magkita na tayo. Nandito na yung 30 thousand, pagpasensyahan niyo nalang sana ito. Ito lang nalikom ko. Saan ba tayo magkita? Ayusin na natin eto pare ko. I said. He did not respond and suddenly terminated the call.
The text exchanges continued thereafter. I was still alone at the parking lot of the AKG compound, away from the maddening noise that could give away my location. If they ever got wind that I was already at the police, it could spell disaster. Alone and in silence I was gripped by fear. I was now negotiating with the kidnappers for the safe release of my daughter. It was surreal. Just like in the movies, but on this night, it’s happening to me in real life.
We then continued with our text exchanges as follows:
11:51pm – K2: mr mata mahal m b anak m?
11:54pm – Me: opo siyempre po.
11: 54pm – K2: nasan ka ngayn?
11: 55pm – Me: nasa Ateneo.
11:56pm – anung gnagawa m dyan? At bkt ka nagsub0ng sa mga pulis?
11:58pm – di ako nagsumbong. San tayo magkita. Ihatid ko na ito 30T para kalimutan na natin ito.
At this time, my phone popped a low battery warning message and to my surprise, I only had less than 10% of battery life left. I needed to buy time. Suddenly, I thought of this crazy idea to use the “low batt” situation as an excuse to disengage temporarily with the kidnappers and thus buy reasonable time. I then immediately composed and sent the following text message to the kidnapper:
12:00am – Me: medyo nalolobat ako pare ko. Ayusin natin ito pare ko. kung maputol icharge kolang sandali. salamat pare ko
12:04am – K2: buti nalang mabait anak mo, sana maging lalaki kang kausap dahl kawawa naman anak m, makaramdam lang ako na may kasama ka sa pagkikita naten eh kalimutan m n anak mo dahl hndi kami nakikipagbolahan sayo.
12:05am – Me: ok sa akin yun pare ko. Wala tayong magiging problema.
12:08am – K2: nasan k mismu ngyn
12:09am – Me: nasa katipunan. san tayo magkita pare ko
12:11am – K2: an0 sasakyan m? san ka mismu ngyn?
Having received those last texts, I figured that this guy was probably mobile and on his way to look for me so he can collect the ransom money. He was asking about my car, my exact location, unbeknownst to him, I was in fact inside the AKG compound in Camp Crame. What a precarious situation I was in.
12:18am – K2: matagal ka sumagot, mukhang madamh adviser dyan
12:21am – K2: punyeta sinasayang m pagkakata0n na binibgay ko syo
Having read this texts, I then decided to disengage and make it appear that my phone really went dead and that I was recharging as per my earlier advise. I then put my phone to Airplane Mode so that in case he would try to call me, my phone would no longer ring indicating that it’s been switched off. Otherwise, it could blow my excuse and irritate the kidnappers further. I then ran upstairs to the AKG conference room where my wife together with some relatives were still in discussion with the AKG operatives.
I began to brief them about the latest negotiations and that the kidnappers seem to have agreed to my offer of 30 thousand pesos. I told them that the kidnappers already wanted to make the handover as they were asking for my whereabouts and the car I was driving. I also told the AKG operatives of my strategy to buy time using the “low batt” excuse and that I was ready to make the handover of the ransom money at the location of the kidnappers’ choosing.
I also briefed them about the information that I received from the military friend which is the last known location of Bea’s cellphone as traced in Marikina. I pleaded to them to react and check out the said location. I was then discouraged by the AKG operatives saying that it is a very risky move. “Mr. Mata, huwag po tayong padalos-dalos. Hindi po ganun kasimple yan”, they said. According to them, as per their experience with similar cases, oftentimes, the victims are not immediately freed by their abductors especially after a low ransom payoff that they would initially agree to, and that additional ransom is usually demanded the next day and even in the succeeding days to the kidnappers’ satisfaction.
If I were to proceed with the ransom payoff, it will be under my own cognizance and that I needed to sign some legal document or a waiver absolving AKG of any liability should anything adverse happen to me or to my daughter as a result of my acts, they said.
“Mga Sir, we have reliable information from the military on Bea’s last known location” I said, “Could you at least check it out and send people there?” I added.
“Mr. Mata, it’s not that easy, it’s not that simple, we have procedures and protocols to follow, we have processes to adhere to” they said. I was angry and frustrated. Precious time is being wasted. So ano pang silbi niyo rito?! I blurted in utter disgust.
At this point, my sister suddenly barged into the room, phone in hand. She was speaking to my cousins who live in Marikina. She then put it on speaker phone so everyone in the AKG conference room could hear the conversation. “Positive! Nakita namin ang kotse. Nakita namin si Bea! Sinusundan namin ang kotse na mabagal na paikot-ikot lang dito sa Marikina sa coordinates na tinext niyo kanina, sa may 7-Eleven!” said my cousins on the other line.
Right then and there, I pleaded again to the AKG operatives to react.
“Mga Sir, positive napo ang kotse, positive napo ang anak ko at ang mga kidnappers sa location sa Marikina na binigay ng military!” I said. “Hindi pa po ba tayo kikilos?!” I asked.
“Sir, may processo po tayo.” “Hindi po ganun kadali”, they said again.
“Sir ano pa po ba ang dapat nating hintayin – Ano pa po ba ang dapat nating gawin”. I asked. “Pinsan ko po yan at sinusundan na niya ang kotse na lulan ang anak ko at mga kidnappers. Hindi pa po ba sapat yun para kumilos na tayo?” I asked.
Seconds later, my cousin called again and on speakerphone everyone heard him say that he is still already tailing the car but had to keep a safe distance as he might get noticed.
Suddenly, to my surprise, the AKG team leader stood up and said to his men, “let’s go!” In minutes, the AKG group was armed to the teeth and raring to go. I said my goodbyes to my wife who then handed to me an envelope containing the 30 thousand pesos she was able to raise from our relatives present. I also remembered that I needed another cellphone to coordinate with her and other family members as my phone is supposed to be “dead” or being recharged to the kidnappers knowledge. “Here use this”, Betsy instinctively handed to me her cellphone. “Ingat ka” and “Get Bea back” were her parting words as she clutched on her Rosary.
“Mr. Mata, you ride with us”, said one operative. There were at least three unmarked vehicles used for this operation and I was in one of them. We swiftly headed our way towards Marikina.
Their two-way radios became abuzz with locations, approaches, descriptions, etc. In the meantime, using my wife’s phone, I was able to contact my cousin who still confirms that he is still tailing Bea’s car. I put it on speakerphone so that everyone inside the vehicle could hear it. Suddenly, we got disconnected.
I tried calling again and it just kept ringing. After several tries, my cousin answered and he said (translated in English), “cousin, I lost track”, “I had to make an abrupt turn as the car suddenly stopped as if waiting for me”, “ They might have noticed me and when I returned to the main road, the car was no longer there”, he said. “Cousin just keep looking”, I said. “Don’t worry, I will”, he replied and we ended the call.
By this time, I realized that our AKG driver was not familiar with Marikina as we had to stop at least three times to ask for directions. We finally arrived at the 7-Eleven store, the very location that was originally sent by our friend from the military hours earlier.
We parked and waited for a few minutes hoping that Bea’s car would turn up.
No sign of the car. Our driver made a few rounds in the area and we stopped again at a nearby Mercury drug store. Still no sign of the car. We suddenly saw a black car and immediately gave chase but it turned out to be a black Toyota Vios. “Negative, Negative” was the word of the moment. Later on, I was asked to transfer to the vehicle of the AKG Team Leader when we regrouped by the side of road. I informed the Team Leader that my cousin lost track of Bea’s car. We then made a couple of rounds in the area . Still no sign of Bea’s car.
That area of Marikina is one of the darkest places I have ever been to. We then stopped near a gas station and at this point I was informed by our Team leader that since there was negative sighting, we had to revert to negotiation mode with the kidnappers. This is when I am supposed to reopen talks and agree to a meeting place and make the ransom payoff and subsequently obtain information on where to get Bea. I will be driving alone to that location but I was assured that the operatives will be tailing me from a safe distance. “Not to worry Sir”, I was assured by the Team Leader.
Since we will now revert to negotiation mode, I will need to turn on my cellphone and open the line of communication with the kidnappers.
I figured that I will just come up with an excuse that it took so long to recharge my phone and just profusely apologize as it was beyond my control. I am now ready to deliver the 30 thousand cash ransom money at a place of their choosing.
Should I now turn on my cellphone, Sir? I asked our Team Leader.
“Yes sir”, he replied. I then turned on my cellphone.
As soon as I got a signal, two successive text messages were received from a new mobile number 0915 228 1068 (which I will later designate as K3).
The text messages read as follows:
K3: kawawa naman anak m, isinugal ng ama
K3: abangan m ulo ng anak m sa opisina nyo!
Those were the most shocking and horrifying text messages a parent could ever receive. I could not believe what I was reading. My hands were shaking but then I tried to remain calm and just prayed in silence to our Lord for Him to protect our daughter.
Shortly, thereafter, our Team Leader instructed the other mobile units to regroup at SM Marikina where I am supposed to get the car that I will drive to deliver the ransom money.
On our way to SM Marikina, I got a call from my brother and he informed me that they just got word that Bea had supposedly called her Lola’s house. She had supposedly informed her that her car broke down and that she needed assistance. She gave her location which is at a Caltex gas station along Calle Industria, Manggahan, Pasig. I would later learn that her Lola’s house landline was the only number that she was able to contact using the gas station’s telephone and that she only made up the car trouble story so as not to alarm her 82 year old Lola.
I immediately informed our team leader about this development and gave him the mentioned address. He then ordered our driver and radioed his men to proceed to said location. We first arrived at a Caltex station in the area but there was no sign of Bea or the car. I asked permission from our team leader to alight the vehicle so I can ask some information from the convenience store attendant. I asked the attendant if there was another Caltex station nearby and he said there is another one down the road. It took us another 10 minutes to reach the other Caltex gas station due to the complex road system in the area. As we approached the next Caltex station, I immediately saw Bea’s car parked inside the premises. We slowly drove closer and the team leader pointed at a girl seated on the benches outside the convenience store and he asked me if I can identify the girl.
I took a good look and I breathed a sigh of relief…”Sir, it’s her, it’s Bea” I said to the Team Leader. I then got off the vehicle and ran towards her. She then stood up and slowly walked towards me and I gave her the tightest embrace a father could give a daughter and we both cried. “Thank God!, Thank God!, You are safe Bea! Thank God!” I said to her.
I then asked if she was hurt in any way or if the kidnappers hurt her physically during her captivity. She said no, except for a some bruises on her leg due perhaps to her initial struggle and a sore back due to her prolonged agonizing position inside the car. She also complained about her difficulty breathing at times as she said that her head was forcibly covered with a bonnet together with her very own canvas bag over it to prevent her from seeing their faces. She was very thirsty so I bought some bottled water from the store. She looked dehydrated and weak after her 7+hrs ordeal.
I asked her where she was abducted and she told me that she was taken right inside the student parking lot nearest to Xavier Hall inside Ateneo campus by at least four men. I asked her if she knew any of these people and she said no. She said she was asked if she were an employee, faculty or student which would indicate that her kidnappers did not know her identity beforehand and that she was not specifically targeted. The kidnapping appears to have been done at random and anyone could have been a victim. She said that her valuables which are estimated to be worth over 50 thousand pesos were taken. This included a Swiss Army watch, two thousand pesos cash, her set of earrings, a pocket wifi and her Iphone. She also said that at some point, she thought that the kidnappers were taking illegal drugs as she heard some weird cracking or boiling sounds and there was some weird smelling odour which the authorities would later regard as Shabu.
I asked her about the circumstances of her release and she said she has no idea. I surmised that it was probably a result of a myriad of factors. Maybe they simply got tired and gave up. Maybe the effects of the drugs wore them down. Also, her car was running very low on gas for at one point they had to gas up worth a measly 200 pesos based on the sounds and conversations she heard. It was also probably so late for them already at that point having no indication that a ransom pay out would take place. Also, it could perhaps be in the way that I tried to talk and level with them for at one point, Bea heard them say, “Jeproks pala papa mo”. Perhaps they also sensed that they were being tailed as what happen in Marikina and thought that the police is already in hot pursuit and closing in on them. Bea said she heard one of her kidnappers say “Sablay ito” prior to her release. She added that she was threatened by her abductors saying that if she ever tries to report this to the authorities, she and her family will suffer the consequences. “We know who you are, we have eyes in Ateneo”, said one of the kidnappers.
Our convoy then returned to the AKG compound in Camp Crame. Her car which needed to be processed by the SOCO was driven back to Crame by an AKG operative.
Bea was joyfully reunited with her mother at around 4am the following day, November 22nd, 2013.
I pray that this nightmare will never ever be experienced by any other child or parent.
I pray that lessons will be learned by our police authorities in improving their crime fighting capabilities.
I pray that the Ateneo University will learn from this experience and do its utmost best to prevent this from ever happening again
I thank the people who prayed with us during those darkest hours.
It is a miracle that my daughter is alive today. The Lord protected her and Angels were sent to free her. Thank you Lord Jesus!
God bless us all.
Brian A. Mata
Photo of Xavier Hall by Mike Gonzalez (Wikipedia)
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