FIVE alleged kidnappers were killed early Tuesday morning in an encounter with the police officers during a rescue operation in San Pablo City, Laguna.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa said Renato Arguelles was abducted on Monday, April 9 in Candaleria, Quezon.
Arguelles family then received a call from the kidnappers who were asking for P800,000 ransom money in exchange to the victim’s freedom.
However, the family have already sought assistance from the police before they agreed to meet the suspects in Alaminos, Laguna for the pay-off.
The firefight between the kidnappers and the police ensued as the suspects tried to escape.
The suspects who were all wearing police uniforms were cornered along Maharlika Highway in San Pablo City.
Killed suspects based on their police uniforms were Senior Police Officer (SPO) 2 Adalla, SPO3 Fernandez, Police Officer 3 Dizon, PO2 Rebadulla, and another still unidentified person.
Recovered from the suspects’ vehicles were one Thompson Rifle, two caliber .45 pistol, two hand grenades and assorted ammunitions.
A policewoman identified as PO1 Sarah Jane Andal was also killed in the rescue operation while three others were wounded. They were brought to San Pablo Medical Center for treatment.
Arguelles also obtained slight injury during the encounter.
However, Dela Rosa said the suspects were not real policemen based on their records as well as their physical appearances.
"Sa itsura palang makikita mo na na hindi pulis, naka-uniporme pero naka tsinelas? Walang pulis na ganun, (They don’t look like police. They are in uniforms but wearing slippers? There is no cop like that)" he said.
The PNP also said the Arguelles is a high-value target who is included in the Police Regional Office 4-A and Quezon Provincial Police Office drugs watch list.
Dela Rosa said Arguelles has been arrested three times already but he is able to post bail.
He said the PNP is still conducting an in-depth investigation particularly on how a high-value target like Arguelles is able to go out of jail.
PNP-Anti-kidnapping Group director Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao said based on initial investigation, Arguelles has already been paying payola to the suspects after they introduced themselves as agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. (SunStar Philippines)