Kidnap victim rescued in Laguna; two suspects killed

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna – Elements of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) rescued a scion of a wealthy clan in Laguna and killed two of her kidnappers during the botched payoff in Nagcarlan town yesterday morning.

Superintendent David Alauigan, RSOG officer-in-charge, said 32-year-old Gina Brosas was snatched near her house in Barangay San Miguel, Majayjay town last Wednesday evening.

Alauigan said the kidnappers initially demanded P5-milion ransom but later reduced it to P3 million, which was to be paid in Barangay Manaol, Nagcarlan town yesterday morning.

But unknown to the kidnappers, the RSOG had laid out an entrapment, resulting in the killing of Jacinto Peneverde, suspected leader of the Lagalag kidnap-for-ransom group, and one of his men, Rolando Lubi, in a 30-minute running gunbattle. Seven other suspects managed to escape.

Alauigan said the Lagalag group was also involved in robbery-holdups, hijackings and gun-for-hire activities in Region 4.

Police recovered an Uzi machine pistol and a caliber .38 pistol from the slain suspects.