Seized Cebu boy found; 5 suspects fall

CEBU CITY — A Grade 5 pupil abducted here last Monday was found abandoned in a house for rent in a subdivision here yesterday morning, as five of his kidnappers fell into the hands of special police agents at the Davao airport later in the afternoon.

Authorities said the kidnappers abandoned Ryan James Yu, 11, son of a wealthy Chinese-Filipino trader here, because of mounting pursuit operations against them.

The boy was found in a house at the Lahug Salinas Drive BC Homes. A former Ozamiz City mayor used to own the house.

The kidnappers earlier demanded a P1.5-million ransom.

Authorities said the kidnap-for-ransom syndicate apparently had a holding group here and another one in Davao City who negotiated the ransom.

Police were able to trace the negotiators’ cellular phone calls to Davao City. A dragnet was put in place, and five of the kidnappers were arrested at the airport there after a shootout.

The suspects tried to snatch the bag containing the ransom money brought there by the victim’s stepbrother. The police agents closed in and a brief firefight ensued.

Four of the five arrested suspects were identified as Roberto Galope, 46; Henry Hernandez, 33; Efren Hernandez, 39; and Edgar Manimo, 24.

Authorities here said the kidnappers were apparently "testing the waters" to pull off abductions in Cebu and other parts of Central Visayas. — Freeman News Service, Edith Regalado