Retired Marine sergeant killed in foiled kidnap try of trader’s son

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A retired Marine sergeant was killed during a shootout with lawless elements who attempted to abduct a trader’s son on Sunday, the police reported here.

Killed was retired Msgt. Amante Comayao, one of the two security escorts of Richie Wee, son of a Filipino-Chinese businessman and a close friend of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Wee, 19,the son of former Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Affairs Lepeng Wee, was on his way to fetch his girlfriend in Barangay Sta. Maria at about 2 a.m. on Sunday when suspected kidnappers flagged down his vehicle.

Police said Wee and his two escorts were aboard a Toyota RAV4 vehicle when the suspects, who were aboard a Toyota Revo and a multicab, blocked their vehicle along Maestra Vicenta drive.

Comayao immediately alighted from their vehicle to confront the suspects but the gunmen quickly drew and fired their guns, killing him on the spot.

SPO1 Mario Zapanta, case investigator, disclosed that the other escort traded fire with the suspects, who were forced to withdraw as a nearby resident helped in firing at the suspects.

Wee survived the kidnapping attempt.

Police said the possible motive of the attack was to snatch Wee as they could not see any other angle or motive behind the incident.

Wee declined to comment in the meantime but assured The STAR they have enough security to protect them from similar attempts.

A family member of the Wees disclosed that the family had been receiving kidnapping threats prior to the incident.

Military and police have doubled their security alert and checkpoints in this southern port city to prevent similar incidents.

The abduction attempt on Wee came a day after police and military warned civilians, especially probable targets, to avoid going out during unusual hours and going to unpopulated areas.