2 KFR gang members arrested in Bulacan

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Police arrested two suspected member of a kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group during a rescue and entrapment operation in Barangay Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan, early yesterday morning.

Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, Police Regional Office-3 (PRO3) director, identified the suspects as Delfin Santos Jr., 49, a resident of Barangay Poblacion II; and Antonio Ong, 52, a resident of Barangay Lias, both of Marilao town.

Querol said the suspects claimed they are civilian agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Phils. (ISAFP).

He said the suspects abducted George Galumo, 20; and his wife Maricel, of Barangay Ibayo, Marilao town along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Saluysoy, Meycauayan, Bulacan at around 11 p.m. on Sunday.

Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, chief of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID), said that Galumo was later released but P40,000 was demanded for the release of Maricel.

Galumo reported the incident to the Marilao police station and disclosed that the pay-off will be at the Burger Machine stall in Barangay Tabing Ilog, Marilao town.

Bulacan and Marilao police, immediately planned the rescue and entrapment operation.

One of the suspects, however, managed to escape while Santos and Ong were collared by police operatives and Maricel was rescued unharmed.

Confiscated from the suspects were one caliber .45 pistol, a .9mm caliber pistol with several bullets and P10,000 marked money used in the entrapment operation.

Also confiscated from the suspects were two PDEA identification cards issued by Chief Inspector Manuel Chica and two ISAFP IDs issued by Maj. Lorenzo Unay.

Querol said the suspects were under surveillance by PRO3 for almost a month for their illegal activities in Bulacan province.

"We are still digging deeper to the linkage of the arrested suspects in KFR Groups operating in Metro Manila and nearby provinces," said Querol. — Ric Sapnu