3 Davao kidnap victims rescued

Combined soldiers and policemen stormed yesterday a kidnappers’ hideout in Davao del Sur and rescued three women, among them a 22-year-old daughter of a wealthy car dealer, held captive for six days, a military spokesman said.

Rescued were Ma. Cecilia "Chiqui" Bonifacio, daughter of the owner of a car dealership based in Davao City, her secretary Fe Jayno and Jayno’s aunt Norma Jayno.

"There was no firefight. The kidnappers literally raised their hands in surrender," Army Capt. Noel Detoyato told reporters, adding that 16 suspects have been taken into custody, including three women and the alleged mastermind identified as Gerry Saligan.

Detoyato, spokesman for the military’s Southern Command based in Zamboanga City, described the rescue mission as a "product of good intelligence and covert operations."

Detoyato said no ransom was paid to the kidnappers who initially demanded P5 million for the release of the victims.

Accompanied by a suspected member of the kidnap gang who was arrested earlier, some 100 policemen and soldiers in full battle gear swooped down on the kidnappers’ hideout in Hagonoy town.

The suspects surrendered without putting up a fight.

Military and police intelligence agents started to case the kidnappers’ den as early as 2 a.m., but the actual raid was carried out by mid-afternoon.

Detoyato said combined elements of the 25th Infantry Battalion under Col. Glorioso Miranda, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force and the Davao City police force surrounded the hideout and sealed off any possible escape route.

"The hostages were unhurt as the kidnappers gave up upon sensing that they were already surrounded by policemen and soldiers," Detoyato said.

The victims were abducted Thursday by five armed men who blocked the Toyota RAV 4 sports van being driven by Bonifacio along a highway in Davao City.

Bonifacio reportedly called up their office manager by cellular phone to relay the kidnappers’ demand for P5 million in ransom.

The female suspects, all from Digos City, admitted acting as the "bait" and lured Canadian Pierre Belanger into the waiting hands of the gang.

Belanger was reported missing since last November.

Southern Mindanao regional police chief Senior Superintendent Eduardo Matillano confirmed that Saligan’s group was behind the abduction of Belanger.

The kidnappers were initially believed to be members of the Pentagon gang operating in Mindanao.

The Pentagon gang still holds kidnapped Italian priest Fr. Giuseppe Pierantoni who was seized in Zamboanga del Sur province in October.

The same group abducted four Chinese nationals and a Filipino guide last year.

Two of the Chinese were killed as they tried to flee during a military rescue attempt.

One Chinese escaped while the fourth was freed allegedly after paying ransom.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told the suspects that something big will happen soon, but did not elaborate. - With reports from Roel Pareño