10 kidnap gang members nabbed in Zamboanga del Sur

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A businessman abducted in November was confirmed executed after combined government forces captured 10 suspected members of the Lanao-based kidnapping during a series of entrapment operations.

Senior Superintendent Sofronio Ecaldre, Zamboanga del Sur police provincial director, said the entrapment was launched Saturday after the family of kidnap victim Edmund Corpus, who was abducted Nov. 25 in Labangan town, sought the assistance of the authorities after the victim was not freed despite payment of more than P5-million ransom.

Ecaldre said the first payment of ransom conducted by the victim’s family was made on Dec. 1 and another pay-off was done on Dec. 28 without the kidnap victim release.

Sometime on the third week of this month, the kidnappers again demanded certain amount of money in exchange for the release of the Corpus that prompted the victim’s family to finally coordinate with the authorities.

Ecaldre said the Task Group Corpus immediately launched entrapment operation using a third party pay-off to arrest the suspects Saturday.

The joint elements of the Zamboanga del Sur police and the anti-kidnapping units and military staged the entrapment backed by a warrant of arrest issued by the court, resulting in the initial capture of four suspects at Purok Mangga 2, Barangay New Labangan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

Succeeding entrapment operation also led to the arrest of another suspect in Barangay Dalapang, Labangan town.

Ecaldre said another entrapment operation was conducted the following day that resulted in the arrest of four suspects in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur Sunday.

The suspects were identified as Ray Mansa and Lucita Mansa, Ronald Luzon alias Dodong, Jovencio Luzon, Danny Manandi Luzon, 42, and Hamedi Tado Balatocal alias Tayan, all of Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Dante Gador Mangubat, 42; Sergio Clamor Cabana, 48; Efren Cabana Sisiban Jr., 21; and Efren Sisiban, Sr., 51, all residents of Balabagan, Lanao del Sur.

Recovered from the suspects were the marked money, firearms and explosives during the raid.

Elcaldre said Cabana  divulged that the kidnap victim was executed January 2 and the cadaver was thrown into the sea.

Charges have been prepared against the suspects.