THREE suspects in alleged kidnapping incident that transpired at KM 11 Shilan La Trinidad, Benguet were arrested by members of Benguet Police Provincial Office on Tuesday.
The arrest was made less than two hours after the commission of the crime was reported to the concerned police authorities and alarm was flashed immediately to all Units.
Around 8:10 a.m., the police intercepted the getaway vehicle in a police checkpoint operation at Km 50 Sayangan Atok, Benguet.
They were arrested in a police checkpoint by police elements of Atok Municipal Police Station on board the getaway vehicle, a Hyundai van color gray with plate number BDL-103 with their kidnapped victims.
Seized from their possession are one armscor caliber .45 with serial number 1082805 and one pistolized shotgun (paltik).
Provincial police chief Wilben Mayor identified the victim as Ricardo Lu, owner of Pacific Lumber.
Lu was about to ferry his sons to school when intercepted by a group of armed men wearing bonnets, who then forcibly abducted them on board their getaway vehicle going towards Halsema Highway.
According to the victim, they were blindfolded with masking tape in their eyes and mouth, their hands handcuffed and covered with blanket while on board the getaway vehicle.
The suspects told them to be silent and they were not allowed to talk until they reached their point of destination.
Lu also told the police investigators that a day prior to the incident, he noticed the vehicle at the premises of their house and it was the same vehicle that was used in their abduction.
Pestano said the speedy solution of the case is a classic example of an effective checkpoint operation of the police authorities and cooperation and coordination of the citizenry in reporting any crimes.
He also hailed the honest Scene of the Crime Operations (Soco) investigators of Police Regional Office-Cordillera in returning to Lu the recovered more or less P120,000 money found at his pajero car of the victim.
Probers under the leadership of Mayor is conducting thorough investigation on the identities of other suspects involved in the crime while the three suspects are now under their custody for documentation and appropriate disposition. (VR/Sunnex)