6 kidnap suspects slain in 2 shootouts

MANILA, Philippines - Six men were killed in a running gunbattle with police and military agents in Valenzuela City and Manila yesterday morning following the rescue of a kidnapped businesswoman in Bulacan hours earlier.

Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said all six belonged to a group of kidnappers who abducted Taiwanese businesswoman Margaret Kao Thursday night in Barangay Sauyo, Quezon City.

“The victim’s family coordinated with the authorities during the pay-off of P3 million ransom Friday night, resulting in the rescue of the kidnap victim and the death of the six kidnappers,” he told The STAR.

Pagdilao said the Manila shootout occurred one hour after the Valenzuela incident.

At around 10 p.m. Friday, lawmen, led by the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER) and the Military Intelligence Group (MIG) 24, raided a house in Royale Subdivision at San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

“Prior to the rescue operation, the victim’s family already paid a P3-million ransom to the suspects. The pay-off was made at the vicinity of Gotesco Commonwealth in Quezon City at around 9:35 p.m.” Pagdilao said.

PACER chief Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez said the slain suspects were members of a group linked to the Waray-Waray kidnap ring, and they are also looking into the possibility that the suspects were former soldiers.

The suspects abandoned Kao at the mezzanine of their safehouse in Bulacan and fled. But lawmen were able to tail their vehicles – a maroon Toyota Innova (ZTY-158) they used to collect the ransom and Kao’s black Mitsubishi Gallant (XBV-606) while escaping from their Bulacan lair.

At around 1:45 a.m., the Valenzuela City police, led by Senior Superintendent Ranier Idio and Chief Inspector Danilo Bugay, tried to intercept the suspects’ vehicles at a checkpoint on Gen. Luis street but the suspects ignored them.

A running gunbattle ensued and the suspects in the Toyota Innova were killed along C-5 Road. The driver of the Gallant evaded pursuing Valenzuela policemen.

Authorities recovered inside the Toyota Innova the P3-million ransom contained in two plastic bags, still intact. They also recovered two .38 revolvers and a .32 revolver from the slain gunmen.

Pagdilao said Kao was reunited with her family at about 5 a.m.

“Any development in the case is now being handled by PACER,” he said.

The three remaining suspects in the Gallant were killed in an alleged shootout with Manila policemen in Intramuros early yesterday morning.

According to Senior Inspector Marcelino Reyes, chief investigator of the Manila Police District (MPD) City Hall Detachment, he received a call from the National Capital Region Police Office regarding an ongoing pursuit of kidnap gang members.

“I was informed that one of the suspects’ vehicles figured in an encounter with the PACER team somewhere in Valenzuela City, and that the other vehicle had escaped and was heading to Manila,” he said.

Reyes’ team spotted the Gallant traversing the southbound lane of McArthur bridge heading to Port Area, prompting him to use a police vehicle to block the entrance to a tunnel under the Jones bridge.

However, the suspects allegedly started firing at Reyes’ group as the latter tried to stop the vehicle for inspection. After a 10-minute exchange of gunfire, the three suspects lay dead still holding their firearms. Both the police’s and the suspects’ vehicles were peppered with bullets.

MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay identified two of the suspects as Ernesto Nuevas, 42, of Manggahan, Pasig City, and Norberto Amora, 47, of Cainta, Rizal. The third suspect remains unidentified.

A .30 caliber automatic rifle, a .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber snub-nose revolver were recovered from the suspects, Magtibay said.

Recovered inside the Gallant were two ladies’ handbags containing several checks payable to Takano, Inc. and one “Margaret Kao.”

According to Reyes, the checks could be part of the ransom payment in exchange for Kao’s release. He also believes that Kao is connected with Takano, Inc.          – With Pete Laude, Nestor Etolle