Trader rescued from extort gang

The alert response of Manila policemen resulted in the rescue of a businesswoman who was illegally arrested and detained by her captors in Tondo, Manila over the weekend.

The operation also resulted in the arrest of two police officers and their two civilian cohorts as well as the seizure of the suspects’ vehicle used in their criminal activities.

Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong identified the suspects as Police Officer 2 Dino Magallanes, 32, detailed at the Computer Service in Camp Crame; PO2 Almamerto Dumaguing, 37, assigned at the Police Station 8 of the Central Police District; Nabil Sultan, 26, of Sta. Cruz, Manila; and Akmad Untal, 29, of Sampaloc, Manila.

Bulaong said the suspects were charged with kidnap for ransom for allegedly detaining a Tondo trader and extorting P200,000 from her in exchange for her release.

Initial investigation showed the suspects approached the victim while she was buying fruits along Fugoso street in Central Market in Sta. Cruz. She was then showed a plastic sachet containing an undetermined quantity of crystalline substance suspected as shabu and accused of being a drug pusher.

The suspects allegedly threatened the victim that she would be brought to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office and be charged for various drug cases unless she shells out P200,000.

The victim tricked the suspects into thinking she would call up a friend to raise the amount. Instead the victim called her mother, who in turn sought the assistance of Manila policemen.

Bulaong immediately formed a special team of operatives composed of the District Police Intelligence Unit, District Intelligence and Investigation Division, Special Weapons and Tactics and the Tondo police station to set up an entrapment operation against the suspects.

Through coordination with the victim’s mother, police traced the complainant inside the suspects’ vehicle, a green Nissan Maxima (PPW-563), which was parked along Jose Abad Santos Avenue between Quiricada and Bambang streets in Tondo.

The suspects were caught by surprise and surrendered peacefully. Police also seized a caliber .9 mm service pistol and a plastic sachet containing shabu from the suspects.

Bulaong said the arrest of the suspects was the result of the enhanced law enforcement of the Manila police, in line with the directive of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza to be more responsive to the people’s need of police assistance.