5 kidnap suspects, cop slain in Laguna shootout

MANILA, Philippines — Five suspected kidnappers, who posed as police officers, and a policewoman were killed in a shootout in San Pablo, Laguna before dawn yesterday.

Four of the slain kidnappers, who were wearing police camouflage uniforms, were identified only through their badges as Senior Police Officer 3 Fernandez, SPO2 Adalla, PO3 Dizon and PO2 Rebadulla.

PO1 Ma. Zarah Andal of the Candelaria police died on the way to the San Pablo Medical Hospital.

PO1s January Mendoza, Jun-Jun Villaflor and Jeffrey Borlanes were wounded and taken to the same hospital for treatment.

Also wounded were kidnap victim Rolando Arguelles, 40, and bystander Sebastian Manalo.

Arguelles, a “high-value” drug target of the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) police, was reportedly taken from his house in Candelaria, Quezon on Monday.

The family of the victim coordinated with the police after the kidnappers demanded P700,000 and reportedly threatened to file drug charges against Arguelles if they would not pay up.

The police officers were on their way to the payoff area when they chanced upon the suspects in a Toyota Sportivo along Maharlika highway in Barangay San Nicolas.

Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao, Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group director, said the suspects had posed as agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to extort money from Arguelles.

Police recovered two caliber .45 pistols, a Thompson rifle, two hand grenades and various types of ammunition from the fatalities.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Arguelles’ background is immaterial to the incident.

“We treated him as a victim and not as a high-value target on the drug watchlist,” Dela Rosa said.

Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police director, said Arguelles is engaged in sand and trucking business to hide his illegal activities. – With Michelle Zoleta