Wednesday, July 23, 2008 'Kidnapper' victimizing Indian traders nabbed
A MEMBER of a notorious kidnapping syndicate that is preying on Indian businessmen in Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Metro Manila was arrested, a police official said.
Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina identified the suspect as Luminog Guiapal alias Mike, 39, a native of Tanuel Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan.
Guiapal was arrested by combined Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (Pacer) and Laguna policemen in Los Baños, Laguna by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Cesar Santamaria of the Makati Regional Trial Court.
He carried a reward of P250,000 offered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in January this year.
According to Espina, the suspect is among the key players of the Cautiver-Abogado Kidnap-for-Ransom (KFR) Group responsible for the kidnapping of businessman Tariq Mian on May 24, 2007 in Makati City.
Pacer records revealed that the group operates in some parts of Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog or Calabarzon, Makati and Pasay City.
"The arrest of Guiapal is the result of a series of intelligence and surveillance operations that enabled our operatives to establish the exact location of the suspect based on vital leads provided by a confidential informant," Espina said.
He said when Pacer policemen confronted Guiapal to serve the warrant of arrest, the suspect did not offer any resistance.
Guaipal is now temporarily detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame while awaiting the disposition of judicial authorities. (VR/Sunnex)
