A SOUTHERN Philippines police chief who revealed that two abuse claims had been filed against kidnapped Sydney adventurer Warren Rodwell by his Filipina wife has been sacked from his post.
Edwin Verzon, police chief of the town of Ipil, was removed from his post on December 12, a day after he told The Age that Miraflor Gutang, 27, had filed the complaints against Mr Rodwell after she married him in June. ”She filed two complaints with us and she was also planning to bring it to the attention of the Australian embassy in Manila, but we don’t know if she pursued it,” Inspector Verzon told The Age.
Inspector Verzon has been reassigned at the provincial police headquarters
Mr Rodwell, 53, a former Australian soldier and prolific world traveller, was kidnapped from his home in a village near Ipil on restive Mindanao island on December 5 by four gunmen posing as policemen. He was shot in the foot during a violent struggle.
Ms Gutang’s parents later confirmed that Ms Miraflor had moved out of Mr Rodwell’s house two weeks before the kidnapping. The couple had met on the internet in May.
Zamboanga Sibugay governor Rommel Jalosjos has imposed a news blackout on the kidnapping at the request of Australia. The kidnappers have twice contacted Mr Jalosjos and asked him to negotiate Mr Rodwell’s safe release. But Australian officials have insisted that a professional police negotiator handle any negotiations.
Philippine authorities said Mr Rodwell was being held by Puruji Indama, a commander of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf terrorist group who is notorious for beheading Christians.(By Lindsay Murdoch with Al Jacinto / Sydney Morning Herald, The Age)
Link: http://www.smh.com.au/world/kidnap-case-chief-sacked-20111221-1p5iz.html
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