Kidnapped Fil-Am woman rescued; 3 suspects killed

MANILA, Philippines - Three suspected kidnappers were killed while their victim, a Filipino-American businesswoman, was rescued unharmed in Tagaytay City yesterday morning, police said.

Police said only one of the slain suspects was identified as Alex Espanola.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said Salvacion Gamba Gorenflo, 39, was safely rescued by operatives of the Police Anti-Crime and Emergency Response, Tagaytay City police and the AFP Joint-Special Operations Group from her kidnappers’ safehouse at Filipinas Farm in Barangay Iruhin, Tagaytay City at around 3 a.m. yesterday.

Police said Gorenflo was seized at gunpoint last April 11 in Barangay Bukal, Dasmariñas, Cavite by at least five men.

The kidnappers had demanded $1-million ransom from Gorenflo’s family in the United States.

Nerez said Gorenflo has been turned over to the US embassy while a thorough investigation into her kidnapping is underway. – With Arnell Ozaeta