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Sunday, September 19, 2004
Angeles cops foil kidnap try; Cop, 2 others nabbed
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- Policemen manning a checkpoint in the city proper intercepted three suspected kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) gang members holding captive two women who were allegedly abducted near a bus terminal in Dau, Mabalacat town.
Sr. Supt. Jimmy Restua, Angeles City Police Director, said the suspects, aboard a van, were apprehended at a checkpoint at the corner of Henson and Jesus streets around 10:00 p.m. Friday.
Restua identified the suspects as Abelardo Canabang, of Alapan, La Trinidad in Benguet.
Restua said Canabang was later identified to be a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned at the Baguio City Striking Force.
His cohorts were identified as Arnold Vones, of 143 Quarry, Baguio City; and Isaias Pagayunan, of Lot 26 Bernadez Compound, Pulang Lupa in Las Piņas City.
The victims, meanwhile, were identified as Norma Mariano, vegetable dealer and Jocelyn Tindo both of La Trinidad also in Benguet.
Witnesses to the alleged kidnapping incident said the suspects hauled the two victims into a van, a white Nissan Urvan Escapade (XEP 710) after alighting from a bus they rode from Dagupan City in Pangasinan.
Investigations disclosed that tricycle drivers in the area were alarmed when they heard the victims' cries for help as they were being hauled into the van.
This prompted them to chase the suspects' vehicle as it was fleeing from the area.
One of the tricycle drivers immediately reported the alleged kidnapping at the ACPO Complaints and Action Center (Compact) along the MacArthur Highway in Balibago.
Restua immediately ordered the setting up of checkpoints all over the city to intercept the suspects.
Supt. Rosve Manulid, Mabalacat Police Station chief, said the arrest of the suspects can be attributed to the alertness of the tricycle drivers.
Resemblance
Police later said one of the suspects resembled one of the most wanted kidnap-for-ransom personalities in the rogue gallery distributed by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (Naktaf).
At the time of the arrest, Restua said verification would be made with the Naktaf officials to determine if the suspects are positively identified as KFR group members.
Denial
Upon interrogations, Restua said the three suspects denied trying to kidnap the victims. Canabang told police he was only hired to drive the van, which was rented by Pagayunan.
Pagayunan, however, also denied kidnapping the two women and claimed that he even lost P3,000 in cash after they were apprehended.
Vones also denied knowledge about the kidnapping plans of Canabang and Pagayunan and said that the two, whom he met in Baguio City only last Thursday, did not tell him.
However, he did not clarify what business they had in Mabalacat.
Search
During a search inside the van, police found an official receipt issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that showed the van is registered under the name of a certain Nobaisa Binatak of 252-F Kayang St., Baguio City.
Backed up by Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team, policemen led by Senior Police Officer 2 Ricardo Tolentino, Kababayan Center 11 chief, found a .45 caliber pistol with ammunition, holster and magazine; P3,500 cash, three cellphones, and a license plate marked XEF 710 upon inspection of the van.
Police also recovered from the same van a lady's bag belonging to victim Mariano and her savings account passbook with a deposit balance of P60,000.
Chief Insp. William Unciano, ACPO Detective Bureau (DB) chief, said the suspects would be turned over to the Mabalacat Police Station for filing of appropriate charges.
(September 19, 2004 issue)
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