Ex-cop, male suspect said to be involved in kidnapping killed in alleged shootout with cops

A former cop and another man suspected to be involved in kidnap for ransom died in an alleged shootout with police in Binangonan, Rizal before dawn on Saturday.

One of the fatalities was identified as former Police Officer 1 Rafael Maray, allegedly the leader of the Maray kidnap for ransom group.

The other three members of the group were able to escape

The group is said to have kidnapped five people in separate incidents in Binangonan on June 3.

According to the Philippine National Police-Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP-AKG), joint operatives from the PNP-AKG, PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNP-IMEG) and Binangonan Municipal Police Station were providing security to the complainant of a kidnapping incident when a white van with a spurious plate number said to be used by the kidnap for ransom group was spotted early Saturday in a subdivision in Barangay Macamot.

The operatives approached the van for verification. However, the vehicle's occupants allegedly fired at them.

This prompted the authorities to fire back at the suspects, which led to the death of Maray and a male suspect. Their three companions were able to escape into the thick vegetation beside the road. 

Manhunt operations are being conducted to locate the other suspects.

Recovered from the crime scene were one Glock pistol, one cal. 45 firearm, one M-16 rifle, and a Nissan Urban van with spurious plate number. 

The PNP-AKG said Maray was pinpointed by one of the victims' relatives as among the suspected kidnappers.

Maray, a former police officer based in Rizal, went AWOL in 2017 after he was assigned to Mindanao. He was allegedly involved in "hulidap" operations, according to PNP-AKG.

"Nu'ng active pa ito, may mga activities siya na ganito, robbery extortion," Police Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Anchetta said.

Maray's group allegedly targets wealthy businessmen and those involved in illegal drugs.

"Nagpapakilala sila na mga pulis. Tapos sasabihin nila na meron kang kasalanan, meron kang drugs. Huhulihin ka nila. Pero 'pag nakuha ka nila, ang kapalit noon ay ira-ransom ka na," PNP-AKG spokesperson Police Major Rannie Lumactod said.

Authorities said Maray's group may possibly have links with other active police as well.

Maray's group allegedly kidnapped on June 3 Marcial Santos, 23, and his two friends Joven Francisco and Shane Paul Cruz.

They were kidnapped in front of the victim's mother.

The family gave P200,000 ransom the following day, but the group did not release any of the kidnap victims.

On Saturday, the victim's mother who witnessed the kidnapping before went to the crime scene and positively identified Maray as the one who pointed a gun at her son and put blindfold on her.

"Anak, isang buwan nang wala ka dito sa amin," she said, adding she hoped they be rescued soon. —KG, GMA News