Kidnap gang head undergoes surgery in Manila hospital

MANILA, Philippines - The arrested kidnap-for-ransom gang leader with a P1 million bounty has undergone surgery in an undisclosed Manila hospital reportedly for colostomy and will soon be detained inside the National Bureau of Investigation detention cell in Manila as soon as he recovers.

In a phone interview with The STAR, Special Investigator IV Cecilio Zamora, NBI spokesman, confirmed such information, but declined to state Rolando Fajardo’s actual location due to security reasons.

Fajardo was long wanted for a series of kidnap-for-ransom incidents.

He was arrested after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from Singapore, Nov. 1. Fajardo was immediately handcuffed after emerging from Singapore Airlines SQ-910 flight.

“He reportedly had colostomy where he had to undergo surgery,” Zamora told The STAR during the phone interview. “He is now recuperating and will soon be transferred as soon as there is an advice from the doctor that he could be transferred,” Zamora said.

However, Zamora said there is no word yet as to when Fajardo will be discharged from the hospital. The transfer also would depend on the court, as to where Fajardo will be detained, he said.

Zamora said that in the meantime, once Fajardo will be discharged from the hospital, the arrested suspect will be detained first inside the NBI jail in the bureau headquarters in Manila.

From the NBI, Fajardo will be transferred to another detention cell in a city where the respective court would request him to be. Zamora said Fajardo has several cases filed against him, some in Parañaque, some in Bacoor, and other cities. It would depend on the court of such city where Fajardo would be ordered to be transferred, said Zamora.

Meanwhile, Zamora also assured the public that there is a “sufficient” number of agents securing Fajardo in order to assure that he would not be able to escape from custody. “There is enough manpower. The security is sufficient enough,” stressed Zamora.

Reports said Fajardo has been wanted by authorities for a series of kidnapping cases.

Fajardo has also nine warrants of arrest for kidnap-for-ransom and another for carnapping.

Fajardo’s warrants were issued by various courts in the 1990s. These were not served to him as authorities failed to locate him.

Fajardo was arrested after the NBI was tipped off by an informant from Italy about his arrival in Manila from Singapore after 1 p.m., Nov. 1.

With the suspect now under their custody, NBI Director Magtanggol Gatdula said they also expect to arrest his brother Harold, who is also a member of the gang.

His brother also has a P1 million reward for his arrest.