Intelligence agents of the Southern Tagalog and Oriental Mindoro police have something to brag about after arresting five suspects in the kidnapping for ransom of an elementary school principal in the province last week.
The police officers buckled down to work after receiving word that Romeo Bayanay, 48, principal of the Labasan Elementary School in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, was snatched by six armed men, in plain clothes and wearing ski masks, last July 1.
Superintendent Benjamin Belarmino, regional operation and planning chief, said the kidnappers demanded a P5-million ransom but later reduced the amount to P1 million.
The payoff pushed through on July 4 in Pambisang Munti, Pinamalayan town, and Bayanay was subsequently freed. The police intelligence agents interviewed him and he identified his abductors.
The first to fall were Pepito Iglecerio, 45, his son Rico, 18, and FO1 Rolando Labay Jr., 27, a fireman of Roxas town.
Further investigation showed that the three had six other cohorts in the kidnapping. Two of them were later arrested: Sulpicio Fajulag, 28, and Redentor Paquita, 32, the alleged leader of the kidnap-for-ransom gang.
The Oriental Mindoro police are hot on the trail of the four remaining suspects.