5 suspects in surgeon’s kidnap fall

BATANGAS — A day after surgeon and feedmill owner Arturo Boa was released, police already had five of his suspected kidnappers in their hands yesterday.

Four of the suspects, identified as Pelmo Kauyan Jr., 38; Orestes Ramos, 32; Enrique Decena Jr., 31; and Gerry Briones, 28, were cornered in Dolores, Quezon early yesterday morning.

The fifth suspect, whose identity was withheld, was nabbed at a checkpoint in Tanauan City Thursday afternoon. His apprehension led to the Dolores arrests.

Superintendent Francisco Rodriguez, Tanauan police chief, said Boa’s telephone number was listed in the fifth suspect’s cell phone directory.

They also recovered from the suspect a piece of paper where the surgeon’s landline phone number was written.

Boa was freed by his kidnappers Thursday morning after 13 days in captivity. His family paid an undisclosed ransom.

"It took us only 24 hours after Boa’s release to arrest the five suspects," said Superintendent Rolando Lorenzo, provincial police director.

A witness positively identified the fifth suspect as the one roaming around the Boas’ poultry farm, on board a motorcycle, in several occasions prior to the abduction.

Boa and his wife, Aida, were snatched last Jan. 18 after visiting their poultry farm in San Jose town. She was later released. — With Jaime Laude