5 guards nabbed in factory standoff

MANILA, Philippines - Navotas City police operatives swooped down Thursday night on a disputed factory at Bangkulasi, Navotas City and arrested five security guards and rescued five people allegedly being hostaged in the said facility.

Superintendent Bernard Tamboan, Navotas City police chief said the rescue operation was carried out after Salvador Lorenzana Jr., owner of the Lorenzana factory sought police assistance after armed security guards took over the facility without any court order. The compound was reportedly foreclosed by a bank.

“We arrested at least five security guards of CORE Security Agency,” Tamboan said.

Police Senior Inspector Ben Andeo said joint operatives including SWAT rounded up the security guards   who were guards in the factory.

Police also seized four 12 gauge shot guns and a .38 cali­ber revolver.

Andeo identified the suspects, as security guards Florencio Corpus, Ibrahim Oseta, Mario Garcia, Gary Guban and Rene Salvador.

Rescued from the compound were Erwin Espiñosa, Erwin Pomasin, Michael Campello, Efren Guai, and Hetor Reyes.

Andeo told The STAR that the victims were allegedly detained since June 1 after the factory shut down on May 27.