THE Philippine National Police (PNP) presented Monday the five suspects, among them a barangay chairman, said to be behind the kidnapping of a businessman in Camarines Sur last November.
The arrested suspects were identified as Jefferson Cuachin, Prudencio Ruiz, Joven Ortiz, Cesar Garcia, and Gerry Mancera, barangay captain of Maninila, Camalig, Albay.
(Video by Al Padilla)
Victim Francis Leo Maulion said the suspects forcibly took him from his farm on November 23, 2016 and asked for ransom money from his family for his release. Aside from a farm, the victim also owns a bakery and a gasoline station in the area.
(Video by Al Padilla)
On March 6, PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said operatives of the Anti-kidnapping group conducted an operation in Sitio Nabuntugan, Banga Caves, Ragay, Camarines Sur where the pay-off of the ransom took place.
The operation then resulted to a gun battle between the policemen and at least eight suspects, leading to the arrest of Ortiz.
Also recovered from the operation were assorted firearms and ammunitions as well as the ransom money amounting to P1.2 million.
Dela Rosa said operatives used Ortiz to locate and entrap the other suspects.
“A police operation was immediately conducted and early in the morning of the following day, Maulion was safely recovered,” said Dela Rosa, adding that Maulion was confined in the house of Mancera.
Mancera, however, denied the allegations and said he was not aware that Maulion was kidnap victim.
Dela Rosa said they delayed the publication of the incident as they were still hunting the remaining members of the kidnapping group. (SunStar Philippines)