3 suspected kidnappers of Cagayan trader arrested

Police arrested three of the seven suspected kidnappers involved in the Aug. 12 abduction of a Filipino-Chinese businesswoman in Cagayan province.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza presented yesterday to the media the suspects identified as Fortunato Mangahas, Joel Balauitan and Rodelio Atienza.

A fourth suspect, identified as Arnold Maccamos alias "Diquiam," died while crossing a river in Alcala town in an attempt to elude pursuing policemen. His body was found last week.

"This (accomplishment) is another feather in the cap of the PNP. This is to show our people that policemen, wherever they are, can solve and avert crimes. The PNP will always be effective and efficient," Mendoza said.

Cagayan provincial director Superintendent Ricardo Padilla said the suspects were involved in the abduction of Editha Chua, a wealthy grocery store owner who was kidnapped in exchange for a P10-million ransom on Aug. 12 in Tuguegarao City.

Chua was rescued unharmed on the same day in nearby Isabela by operatives of the Cagayan Provincial Police Office and the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division under Superintendent Jude Santos.

Mendoza directed Cagayan Valley region director Chief Superintendent Dominador Resos to step-up the manhunt operations for the arrest of a businessman identified as Joey Jose.

Jose, a businessman engaged in the jewelry trade and watch repair shops in Metro Manila, was tagged by the police as the mastermind in the kidnap-for-ransom.

He reportedly owns a chain of jewelry shops in Gotesco, Caloocan City; Philcoa area in Quezon City and in Manila.

Meanwhile, a cell phone call led to the arrest of one of the 10 suspects who robbed a Filipino-Chinese businessman in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya of some P500,000 in cash and valuables, a police intelligence agent here said yesterday.

SPO4 Anselmo Dulin of the provincial police intelligence office, said the suspect, Rogelio Rosa of Pangasinan, was arrested in Santa Fe town here after being traced through a call to one of the cellular phones stolen from the twin houses of businessman Ben Ong and his daughter Priscilla Ong-Marcos.

Police said Rosa, arrested last Oct. 26, was among the 10 armed men who ransacked the compound of the Ongs in Barangay Magsaysay here last Oct. 21.

Among the stolen items were a laptop computer, jewelry including a diamond ring and gold wristwatches, several cell phones and other valuables worth at least P500,000, this excluding the undetermined amounts of cash inside a brief case they also took.

Police said the armed group, some of them in bonnets and black jackets, cut the telephone lines of the Ongs, thus preventing the family from seeking immediate police assistance. — Christina Mendez, Charlie Lagasca