Attempt to snatch doc’s wife in shopping mall foiled

ANGELES CITY, Philippines   â€“ Security personnel and policemen foiled an attempt to snatch the wife of a prominent doctor at the Nepo shopping complex here last Tuesday afternoon.

This developed as a doctor in neighboring Mabalacat City was reportedly seized last week but was released last Tuesday. Police declined to say if ransom was paid.

Ronnie Morilla, chief of the Glocke Security Agency whose men are detailed at the Nepo complex, said that at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Gloria Suarez, wife of nephrologist Biboy Suarez, was about to board her Starex van at the parking area when the suspect, Marlon Paras, armed with a knife, tried to push her into the vehicle.

Suarez was able to break free and attempted to run away, but Paras held her, Morilla said.

“The commotion attracted bystanders who alerted us about what they thought was a car theft incident, so I ordered the blockade of all roads to prevent the suspect’s escape,” he said.

Finally letting go of Suarez amid the commotion, Paras then commandeered the Starex van and tried to mow down steel bars put in place by the security personnel.

“When he drove in reverse to find another route, the suspect hit jeepneys parked at the back. I also ordered that the wheels of the car be shot to prevent his escape,” Morilla said.

This prompted Paras to alight from the car and run on foot to a store where he hid in the toilet, Morilla said. He was able to convince Paras to eventually surrender.

He said a six-inch knife in Paras’ pocket.

Police have charged him with attempted kidnapping, he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Ferdie Perez, Mabalacat police chief, said a doctor was seized in the city last week, but was freed unharmed last Tuesday. Witnesses saw the doctor being escorted into a van near his clinic.

Perez declined to confirm the case as kidnapping amid the refusal of the doctor’s relatives to give details. But he said that after the doctor disappeared, his kidnappers called up his relatives, asking them not to worry about his welfare and told them not to report to the authorities.