Wanted kidnapper nabbed upon arrival from Singapore

(Updated 5:26 p.m.) With help from European authorities, Philippine law enforcers arrested on Monday afternoon a wanted leader of a notorious kidnap-for-ransom gang who was arriving from Singapore. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported that Rolando Fajardo was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) just as he exited a Singapore Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). "We have nine warrants of arrest for kidnap for ransom and one warrant of arrest for carnapping," NBI director Magtanggol Gatdula said, adding that the arrest warrants dated back to the 1990s. Fajardo, who has a P1-million reward for his capture, arrived aboard a Singapore Airlines SQ-910 flight. He was handcuffed before being presented to media. He wore a bull cap, black jacket and blue polo shirt, and had a brown shoulder bag. The dzBB report said he was the last to get out of the plane. Fajardo reportedly spent some time hiding in Rome. Without elaborating, Gatdula said they expect to arrest other members of Fajardo's gang, including his brother Harold, soon. Harold also has a P1-million bounty for his arrest. Gatdula said they arrested Fajardo after coordinating with European counterparts and receiving a tip of his arrival in Manila. The NBI director also said there was no surrender feeler from Fajardo. "Nagkaroon ng reports na pauwi siya. According to the information gusto niya bumalik kasi may bagong administrasyon at baka magkaroon ng fair justice (We received reports he was coming home. He wanted to return now that there is a new administration)," Gatdula said. For his part, Fajardo said he is facing the charges against him because of the new administration. He claimed he hid all those years for fear of his life. "Sa totoo lang po sa bagong administrasyon naglakas ako ng loob para humarap sa bintang laban sa akin (Now that we have a new administration I had the strength to face the charges against me)," he said. When asked if he belies the charges against him, he said he will fight for his rights. "Ako ay matagal nanahimik at hindi nagsalita. Ngayon babasagin ko ang katahimikan ko at handang ipaglaban ang aking karapatan (na) wala akong kasalanan (For so long I have kept quiet. Now I will break my silence and fight for my right, and prove I am innocent)," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV