PACER rescues kidnapped trader; 5 suspects killed

URDANETA CITY , Philippines  ­— Police commandos killed five suspected kidnappers after raiding their hideout in Urdaneta City to rescue their 22-year-old victim, who was snatched in Las Piñas on April 15.

At Malacañang, Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said President Arroyo ordered Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to immediately rescue Jualian Rodriguez after his kidnapping was brought to her attention by “a certain architect Palafox.”

“I think the lesson learned here is that we encourage the family members in cases like this to fully cooperate with our authorities,” she said.

Killed were Army T/Sgt. Dionisio Obillo, the alleged gang leader; AWOL Marine Rosendo Matias; his son, Roger; Marcial Fontanilla; and an unidentified gang man.

Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., Urdaneta City police chief, told The STAR that Rodriguez, who was unhurt, was found inside a room with one of the dead suspects in an unfinished concrete house belonging to Matias in Barangay Palina West on Sunday night.

The bodies of the suspects were found sprawled in different rooms of the house, he added.

Ilocos Region police commander Chief Superintendent Ramon Gatan told The STAR the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) monitored the gang’s movement after they kidnapped Rodriguez in Las Piñas on April 15 and brought him to a safehouse in Urdaneta.

“The PACER coordinated with us on Sunday for the conduct of a rescue operation because they were able to trace the location of the suspects in Urdaneta,” he said.

“It’s a successful operation because we are able to rescue safely the victim and we have neutralized a crime group operating in various parts of the country.”

The slain suspects belonged to the Mostrales kidnapping gang, which operates mostly in Luzon, Gatan said. 

Pangasinan police commander Superintendent Perci Barba said police learned about the gang’s hideout in Palina West from Francis Uyehara, who was kidnapped in Baliuag, Bulacan last Jan. 8.

Uyehara pinpointed to police the hideout’s location and the room where he was held captive, he added.

Uyehara also identified Fontanilla and Matias as among his kidnappers, Barba said.

Investigation showed that the suspects fired on police as they were heading to their hideout to rescue Rodriguez.

Police subdued the suspects who were armed with two 9mm and two caliber .45 pistols, according to the investigation.

Recovered from the crime scene were four cell phones, 32 empty shells, the four firearms, and a blasting cap. 

Investigation showed the gang had initially demanded P20-milllion ransom for Rodriguez.

It was later reduced to P1.2 million, but no payoff took place because police raided the gang’s hideout and rescued Rodriguez. – With Jun Elias, Cesar Ramirez, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy