(Update) 5 killed in rescue operation in Pangasinan
04/20/2009 | 04:15 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Police on Sunday morning rescued a kidnap victim in northern Philippines that left five suspected members of a kidnap-for-ransom group dead, police said Monday.
One of those killed was Army Technical Sergeant Dionisio Obillo Jr., reportedly the leader of the Mostrales-Obillo-Waray-Waray kidnap group, said Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, chief of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer).
The rescued victim was identified as 22-year-old businessman Julian Rodriguez of Ayala, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
"He (Rodriguez) was safely rescued...he was not harmed," Espina said.
The rescue operation was carried out 6:40 a.m. Sunday in Urdaneta City. The kidnappers had demanded a P20-million ransom for the release of Rodriguez but the family refused to heed the demand.
Three other fatalities were identified as Rosendo Matias, reportedly a former Marine; Marcial Fontanilla and Roger Matias. The other cohorts escaped and are now being hunted by authorities.
Police recovered two caliber .45 pistols and two 9-mm handguns from the slain suspects.
Investigation showed that armed men seized Rodriguez after breaking into an Internet shop owned by the victim's family in Las Piñas City about 11 p.m. last April 15.
"The suspects initially planned to bring Julian’s sister Nins in their getaway car, but Julian offered himself to be taken hostage instead," Espina said.
The suspects fled using the vehicle owned by Rodriguez's sister.
The vehicle, a Honda Civic, was found abandoned two days later in Unzard village in Villasis town.
Espina said the operatives obtained intelligence information that Rodriguez was being kept at Purok 4 in Palinas West in Urdaneta City, which prompted them to launch a rescue operation last Sunday.
A former victim of the group, Francis Uyehara of Bulacan, helped authorities in identifying two of the slain suspects.
Uyehara admitted being taken to the same house when he was kidnapped Jan. 8 this year. The circumstances surrounding Uyehara's case, however, were not divulged. - GMANews.TV
One of those killed was Army Technical Sergeant Dionisio Obillo Jr., reportedly the leader of the Mostrales-Obillo-Waray-Waray kidnap group, said Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina, chief of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer).
The rescued victim was identified as 22-year-old businessman Julian Rodriguez of Ayala, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
"He (Rodriguez) was safely rescued...he was not harmed," Espina said.
The rescue operation was carried out 6:40 a.m. Sunday in Urdaneta City. The kidnappers had demanded a P20-million ransom for the release of Rodriguez but the family refused to heed the demand.
Three other fatalities were identified as Rosendo Matias, reportedly a former Marine; Marcial Fontanilla and Roger Matias. The other cohorts escaped and are now being hunted by authorities.
Police recovered two caliber .45 pistols and two 9-mm handguns from the slain suspects.
Investigation showed that armed men seized Rodriguez after breaking into an Internet shop owned by the victim's family in Las Piñas City about 11 p.m. last April 15.
"The suspects initially planned to bring Julian’s sister Nins in their getaway car, but Julian offered himself to be taken hostage instead," Espina said.
The suspects fled using the vehicle owned by Rodriguez's sister.
The vehicle, a Honda Civic, was found abandoned two days later in Unzard village in Villasis town.
Espina said the operatives obtained intelligence information that Rodriguez was being kept at Purok 4 in Palinas West in Urdaneta City, which prompted them to launch a rescue operation last Sunday.
A former victim of the group, Francis Uyehara of Bulacan, helped authorities in identifying two of the slain suspects.
Uyehara admitted being taken to the same house when he was kidnapped Jan. 8 this year. The circumstances surrounding Uyehara's case, however, were not divulged. - GMANews.TV
