PNP chief presents suspects in kidnapping of trader in CamSur

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa presented on Monday five of the suspects, including a barangay chairman, in the kidnapping of businessman Francis Leo Sta. Maria Maulion in Camarines Sur.

Arrested were Gerry Mancera, chairman of Barangay Maninila, Camalig, Albay and Cesar Garcia Jr, barangay chairman in the same village; alleged "caretakers" Jefferson Cuachin and Prudencia Ruiz and Joven Ortiz, who allegedly took the ransom money.

Charges of kidnapping for ransom, serious illegal detention, illegal possession of firearms and explosives are being prepared against the suspects.

Dela Rosa said operations are ongoing against the remaining members of the group.

The PNP chief also presented during a press conference in Camp Crame several firearms and P1.2 million cash.

The family had paid the kidnappers an initial P1.4 million last January, he said.

Dela Rosa said Maulion was kidnapped from his poultry farm in Barangay Kamuning in Calabanga, Camarines Sur on Nov. 23, 2016. He said Maulion’s family also owns a bakery and a gasoline station in the province.

PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group chief Senior Superintendent Glenn Dumlao said during the press conference that Maulion's family did not immediately report the kidnapping to the police out of fear.

“Hirap talaga dahil noong unang ransom demand ay ayaw talaga, talagang tinakot ang pamilya noong January 16 na ‘wag magsumbong sa pulis. So kino-cover namin sila pero napakalayo talaga namin,” Dumlao said.

Dela Rosa said Maulion was freed as a result of operations conducted by Dumlao's unit and the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5) in several locations in Camarines Sur and Albay provinces.

He said Ortiz was the first to fall following an encounter at the Banga Caves in Ragay, Camarines Sur during a ransom payoff last March 6, 2017.

The other members of the group were with Ortiz during the encounter, but were able to elude arrest.

“Nung magkaroon ng encounter nag-pursue kami at nahuli namin ang isa, unluckily nakatakbo yung pito kasi nasa high ground sila. ‘Yun ang nagcause ng constriction sa kilos ng grupo, hindi nakabalik sa Pasacao where Francis was being held,” said Dumlao.

Based on information provided by Ortiz, policemen set up an entrapment operation but failed to arrest the group's negotiator known only as MacMac and three others. Policemen, however, were able to recover Maulion from Barangay Itulan in Pasacao town.

The four other suspects presented by Dela Rosa during the press conference were arrested in follow-up operations in Baranggay Maninila.

Tied, brought to different safe houses

During the press conference, authorities said the suspects brought Maulion from one safe house to another during the nearly three months of his captivity.

“Kita n’yo ‘yung markings kung gaano siya katagal in captivity na nakatali. Natuyo na at gumaling na yung mga sugat niya. Grabe na markings ‘yan, forever na ito, hindi na mawawala sa kanyang braso. Pati ‘yung paa may markings din,” said Dela Rosa.

He said Maulion's kidnapping was kept from the media to prevent jeopardizing operations against suspects. Other details of the kidnapping are also being withheld due to the follow-up operations against the remaining suspects.

The victim said that while in captivity, the kidnappers threatened to behead him and cut his fingers and send parts of his body to his family.

He said he was also held in a safe house beside the residence of the barangay chairman.

However, the barangay chairman denied the allegations saying he did not know Maulion was a kidnapped victim.

"Wala po talaga sir," he said when Dela Rosa talked to him.

Organized crime group

Dumlao, meanwhile, said the the suspects belonged to a big organized crime group.

“Sa galaw nila, almost iniikot ang tropa namin from Bicol, to Laguna, to Batangas, to Quezon and it will take three hours before kukunin nila yung ransom e so talagang magagaling. By cell kasi ito, iba yung negotiator, iba ‘yung nagbabantay sa safe house, iba ‘yung kukuha ng pay off," he said, adding that the suspects were armed with high-powered firearms.

He said the syndicate's leader is a certain Ronald Guanchin.

PRO 5 director Chief Superintendent Melvin Buenafe said they had a hard time to identify the members of the syndicate.

“Ito ay trinabaho hiwa-hiwalay para makuha yung grupo. May cut-off sila, compartmentalization, kaya ‘yung ibang tao hindi kilala ‘yung iba. Hindi kilala ng negotiator yung nagbabantay, hindi kilala ng ibang security 'pag mayroong pay off,” he said.

From drugs to kidnapping

Dela Rosa, meanwhile, hinted that the suspects' group could have also been involved in illegal drugs. He said organized crime groups could have resurrected their kidnap-for-ransom operations because of the dwindling illegal drugs business due to the government's intensified war on drugs.

“According to AKG, matagal nang walang kidnapping case dahil yung organized crime groups ay naka-focus sa drugs, having heyday during that time, kaya nakalimutan nila yung kidnapping-for-ransom dahil risky yung operations na ‘yun,” he said.

“Ngayon tinira natin yung drugs, they are in complete disarray. Nawala yung supplier, nawala yung distributor, nahihirapan sila sa street level na pagdi-distribute, maraming nag-surrender na users so apektado yung kanilang hanapbuhay. That’s why we conclude na nag-shift sila sa ibang forms,” he added.

Dela Rosa refused to mention the motive in the kidnapping as they are pursuing other angles.

“Huwag muna (banggitin), this may involve personal relationships,” he said. —KG/ALG, GMA News