Kidnap gang leader falls

MANILA, Philippines - A leader of a kidnapping syndicate operating in Metro Manila was captured by lawmen in Eastern Samar, police said yesterday.

In a phone interview, Senior Superintendent Felixberto Castillo, Eastern Samar provincial director, told The STAR that suspect Blas Abucay, alias Salamoy/Bala, 46, was arrested based on the arrest warrant issued by Judge Rizalina Capco-Umali, of Regional Trial Court, Branch 212, Mandaluyong City.

Castillo said the suspect and his brother Efren are the founders of the so-called Abucay gang. The group is allegedly responsible for the string of kidnapping in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Southern Tagalog.

“The gang decided to split for a while after they abducted a certain Benzon, a businessman from Mandaluyong City,” Castillo told The STAR.

According to Castillo, the suspect was spotted by an asset in his house at Sitio Cagmusan when he visited his family.

The police immediately created two teams to conduct a one-week surveillance near Abucay’s house while the police contacted the Mandalu­yong police to secure a warrant of arrest.   – Ed Amoroso