12th most wanted kidnapper nabbed

Police have arrested the 12th most wanted kidnapper on the list of the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) and four other suspected kidnappers, officials said yesterday.

Ronnie Tan, 31, who ranked No. 12 on the list of the country’s most wanted kidnappers, was arrested last Friday in his hideout in Barangay San Roque in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, said NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao said CIDG operatives, led by Senior Superintendent Zoilo Lachica and Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, made the arrest.

Tan is allegedly a member of the notorious Mostrales kidnap-for-ransom gang responsible for the kidnapping of Grace Ong, whose Filipino-Chinese family owns Liana’s Supermarket, in September 2001 along Faraday street in Barangay Palanan, Makati City. Authorities could not ascertain how much ransom Ong’s relatives paid for her freedom.

During interrogation, Tan revealed the participation of the Mostrales group in Ong’s abduction. Gang members Diosdado Santos and Eugene Radam were former bodyguards of businessman Peter Sy, Ong’s brother.

According to the police, Tan himself was Ong’s personal driver and acted as the tipster for the Mostrales gang. He claimed to have been kidnapped together with his employer but was later released unharmed. Tan went into hiding in Davao City after Ong’s abduction until his arrest in Batangas, police said.

Gaerlan told The STAR that, acting on tips provided the CIDG, they conducted a month-long surveillance until they confirmed the identity of Tan, who was staying with his wife in Sto. Tomas. At the time of his arrest, Tan was working as a delivery truck driver.

Policemen served Tan with a warrant of arrest issued against him on May 3, 2002 by Judge Amalia Dy of the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 213. Tan is facing nine other cases still under investigation aside from three more kidnap-for-ransom charges stated in the warrant of arrest.

Lomibao said that a former enlisted man who spotted the kidnap suspect gave the "tip" that led to Tan’s capture. The tipster, he added, only asked to be reinstated into active duty as his reward even though Tan has a P500,000 award for his arrest.

President Arroyo lauded the capture of Tan and four other suspected kidnappers as "very important accomplishments" for the NAKTF and other law enforcement teams.

Reyes said Tan was brought to the Presidential Security Group (PSG) headquarters for a press conference with Mrs. Arroyo yesterday before she took off for Tuguegarao, Cagayan for the ceremonial opening of the Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association Meet. — With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Cecille Suerte Felipe, AFP, AP