2 kidnap victims rescued in Ecija; suspect arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) rescued a businesswoman and a bank executive from kidnapers in a police operation in Nueva Ecija on Thursday.

Aurelio Villaflor, 62, executive vice president of the GM Bank, and Evangeline Urgente, 37, were reportedly kidnapped by seven armed men last July 24 in Barangay Dinarayat, Talavera town.

CIDG chief Director Francisco Uyami said the rescue came shortly after members of the Nueva Ecija police and CIDG agents arrested one of the suspects identified as John del Rosario.

Del Rosario was collared after he reportedly received the P400,000 marked money in ransom payment, at the parking lot of the Mega Center Mall in Cabanatuan City.

Reports said the suspects initially demanded P3.5 million for the victims release, but the amount was lowered to P400,000.

A complaint for kidnapping with ransom has been filed against Del Rosario before the Cabantuan City prosecutor’s office.