KFR member arrested in P’sinan

URBIZTONDO, Pangasinan – A suspected member of the dreaded Quitalig kidnap-for-ransom group operating in Northern and Central Luzon was finally arrested Sunday in Barangay Gueteb this town by police elements after years of manhunt.

Senior Inspector Mario Estrada, the town police chief told The STAR yesterday that nabbed was Ronald Quitaleg Pidlaoan, alias Buddha, 36.

The arrest was jointly undertaken by elements of the Special Operation Group under Superintendent Joseph Lopez, Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response, under Chief Inspector Marceliano Desamito Jr., Provincial Intelligence Branch under Superintendent Amando Lagiwid in coordination with Mangatarem and Urbiztondo Police Stations under the over-all supervision of Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, police provincial director, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under Superintendent Jonel Estomo.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said the suspect Pidlaoan, alias Buddah was arrested on Sunday by joint intelligence agents of Police Action and Emergency Response (PACER) and the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office.

In his report to Razon, PACER Chief, Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina identified Pidlaoan as a key member of  the Quitalig kidnap-for-ransom group operating in Northern and Central Luzon.

Espina said Pidlaoan is facing trial in Criminal Case No. 8571 for the kidnapping of Chinese-Filipino trader Gina So in 2002.

So, owner of Golden Lumber and Hardware in Rosales, Pangasinan was abducted on Sept. 14, 2002 by the Quitalig group who demanded P30-million for the safe release of the victim.

According to Espina, the victim was held captive by her kidnappers for 44 days until she was freed on Oct. 28 somewhere in Victoria, Tarlac.

No bail is recommended for Pidlaoan’s case.

Nerez told The STAR in a separate interview that among the KFR group’s victims in Pangasinan was a female trader in Rosales and a Chinese hotel owner in Dagupan City. They also had one victim in Batangas whom they released in Victoria, Tarlac after a pay off.

The group was very active in their KFR operations in 2002, Nerez said.

He said the group’s leader had been earlier killed by lawmen in an encounter in Tarlac.

He added that based on police monitoring, remnants of this group have allegedly shifted to gun-for-hire operations.

Neres said they are double-checking whether members of this same group are behind the recent killings in Pangasinan.

“This proves that you cannot forever evade the long arms of the law. They cannot forever hide,” he said.

Neres said criminal syndicates like them hide when they feel they are already under hot pursuit by lawmen.

The arrested suspect was brought to the Special Operations Group office for further questioning.   – With Cesar Ramirez