One of the seven victims who were earlier kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf terrorists is now free.
Colonel Gerry Besana, public affairs officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command, confirmed the release of businesswoman Helen Roda who was kidnapped together with her husband Rufo in August in Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte.
Police reported that Roda was freed after paying P1 million ransom, in Barangay Anuling, Patikul town, Sulu.
Roda and her husband were kidnapped in Piakan village, Sirawai town, Zamboanga del Norte, where they were held captive by the group of Abu Sayyaf sub leaders Mujier Yadah and Indam Yadah. Rufo reportedly earlier paid P2.5M for his release.
Suspected KFR gang member slain in Laguna drug bust
A suspected member of a kidnap-for-ransom group in Laguna and Batangas provinces was killed in a shootout with the police in Calamba City on Nov. 27.
Senior Supt. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, said the slain suspect, Dennis Guilas was a member of the Fajardo kidnap-for-ransom group.
He said the shootout happened in Barangay Bucal after Guilas and two other companions sold shabu to undercover policemen.
Matta said the suspects opened fire, forcing the police to shoot back. Guilas was killed while his companions, Ramonchito Fajardo and Jayson Garcia, escaped.
Recovered from the slain suspect were five grams of shabu and a KG-9 submachine gun.
Kidnap suspects killed in shootout
Two men suspected to be behind the kidnapping of a businessman in Batangas were killed in a shootout during a supposed ransom payoff in Talisay town.
Police said they conducted the operation after the wife of the victim, Riz-John Biscocho, received a telephone call from the supposed kidnappers who demanded P100,000 for his release.
Police said the victim, who rents out videoke machines, was reportedly snatched in Laurel town, in Batangas. The victim’s wife sought police help in the rescue of her husband. The suspects demanded that they meet in Tanauan City but later changed the location to Talisay and then to Laurel town, all located in Batangas.
A relative of the victim and an undercover police officer went to meet with the suspects for the payoff, with several other teams positioned some 10 to 20 meters away. As they approached, the suspects suddenly opened fire, triggering a chase that ended at Barangay Sampaloc in Talisay. Police said both suspects sustained gunshot wounds and died on the way to St. Andrew Hospital in Talisay.
Police said the kidnapped businessman was not with the suspects during the supposed payoff, and that he is still missing.