MANILA (UPDATED) — The Philippine National Police has put the acting head of the police Anti-Kidnapping Group on administrative relief.

Police Col. Elmer Ragay has been “administratively relieved…pending investigation,” according to an order dated February 28 and effective from the same day.

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In a release, the PNP said Ragay was relieved "following adverse news reports and viral social media discussions questioning the legitimacy of a recent rescue operation" of a 14-year-old student of the British School Manila in Taguig.

The AKG earlier this week recovered the student, whom abductors had abandoned in Parañaque City.

The remains of the boy's driver were found in Bulacan, where police also recovered an abandoned vehicle and, authorities said, details on the kidnappers and their potential hideouts and safe houses.

Authorities believe the suspected mastermind in the abduction, a certain Wang Dan Yu, is also behind the kidnappings of other foreign nationals in past years.

"As public servants, we must be open to scrutiny and ensure that our actions reflect the highest standards of integrity," Police Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said. 

"This review is meant to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and reinforce public trust in the PNP."

He said officials would be held responsible for any lapses that the investigation will find.

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The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs had set a hearing into a perceived rise in kidnappings in the country but that has since been postponed.

“We respect the Senate’s authority to look into this matter and will extend our full cooperation in the proceedings," Marbil said in the release.

The public order committee is headed by Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, a former PNP chief and a re-electionist candidate.