POLICE rescued two Chinese-Filipino kidnap victims in a daring police anti-kidnapping operation across CALABARZON yesterday morning.
The victims, a 21- year old student and his cousin, a 34-year old businessman, were safely reunited with their families shortly after midnight this morning, ending ten days in captivity in the hands of kidnappers who held them for ransom, PNP Officer-in-Charge, Police Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr said.
Danao said the victims were snatched at gunpoint in Tondo, Manila last June 4, 2022.
Initially, the kidnappers demanded P100,000,000 ransom for the safe release of the hostages.
“The timely report of the victims’ family to the police allowed the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group under Police Brigadier General Rudolph Dimas, to take immediate action on the case to secure the safe rescue of the victims,” the PNP-OIC said.
A breakthrough in the investigation came when the kidnappers agreed with the counter offer by the victims’ family.
A ransom pay-off was set in Calamba City, Laguna but was later diverted to Pakil, Laguna where the kidnappers received the ransom while the victims were freed in Famy, Laguna, Danao explained.
Moments later, Danao said PNP-AKG operatives tracked down the kidnappers’ getaway vehicle somewhere in Pililia, Rizal where an armed encounter ensued, resulting in the death of two kidnap suspects and the wounding of an AKG operative.
The recovered pieces of evidence are now under the custody of the Forensic Group for examination.
Meanwhile, the cadavers of the two kidnappers identified through their ID cards as Rolly Castillo and Jerameel Ventura were brought to the Valencia Funeral Service in Pililia, Rizal.
“What is more significant here is the cooperation of the victim’s family with the police that led to the early solution of the case and safe rescue of the victims,” the PNP-OIC said.
metrosundaily
