Abducted trader rescued; 7 killed

MANILA, Philippines – Joint police units led by the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response (PACER) rescued a kidnapped Chinese-Filipino trader and killed seven suspects in his abduction in separate operations in Laguna and Cavite last Friday and early yesterday morning.

PACER chief Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez said businessman Jefferson Ching was safely rescued from the kidnappers’ safehouse at Block 7, Lot 54, Executive Village in Cabuyao, Laguna at around 7:30 p.m. last Friday.

Ching, who works for one of the country’s big tobacco firms, was seized while on his way to work in Barangay Malipay, Bacoor, Cavite at around 9:30 a.m. that same day.

Police said the kidnappers demanded P20 million from the victim’s family. Instead of paying the ransom, the family sought PACER’s help.

After gathering sufficient intelligence information on the suspects, PACER-led police units swooped down on the suspects’ lair and made the rescue.

Two of the kidnappers, a certain Nonong Tamayo and alias Bong, were killed during the encounter while an unidentified suspect died while being treated in the hospital. Police said the suspects belonged to the Masbate kidnap group.

A follow-up operation in Imus, Cavite at around 2:35 a.m. yesterday resulted in a firefight with four other suspected members of the kidnap ring.

Nerez said PACER elements, supported by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-NCR, the National Capital Region Police Office and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines intercepted the suspects’ red Honda Civic at a checkpoint.

Instead of giving up, the suspects opened fire, forcing the lawmen to return fire. Two of the suspects died on the spot while two others died while being treated at the Molino Doctors Hospital in Bacoor, Cavite.

One of the suspects was identified as Demetrio Mendoza of Antipolo City through an identification card found in the pocket of his pants. The three others remained unidentified as of press time.

Recovered from the suspects at the Cavite encounter were a cellular phone that contained text messages between the suspects and the victim’s family, two .45 caliber pistols, a .38 caliber revolver and an Ingram machine pistol.

Also recovered from the suspects was the Honda Civic where the victim’s wallet was found.

Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad, Calabarzon police director, said the slain kidnappers were believed to be involved in other criminal activities. – With Dennis Carcamo, Ed Amoroso, Arnell Ozaeta and Non Alquitran