78-year-old taken to bank for ransom, rescued from kidnappers

A 78-year-old businesswoman belonging to a “large industrial family” was rescued in Quezon City on Thursday after getting kidnapped last September 2 for a ransom of P150 million, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Friday.

In a press conference, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) rescued the victim after three of the 11 now arrested suspects brought her to a bank.

“On September 11, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., the victim was brought inside the bank in Quezon City by three men to withdraw money from the account of the victim,” Remulla said.

“The bank operators knew of the situation and contacted the PNP. Within minutes, the PNP arrived and arrested the three suspects and rescued the kidnapped victim,” he added.

After nine days in captivity, Remulla said the victim was in good health with no injuries, and she was already turned over to her family.

Three suspects were nabbed in the initial operation on Thursday. In a series of follow-up operations on Friday, eight more suspects were arrested.

Of the 11 total suspects, Remulla said that three were former members of the Philippine Marine Corps.

Considering that some of the suspects brought the victim to the bank, Remulla said the kidnapping seemed like a “very amateur job.”

Remulla refused to divulge the identities of the victim and the suspects as the pursuit operation is still ongoing for more possible perpetrators at large.

The DILG chief said the family of the victim is involved in the manufacture of industrial goods.

The victim was abducted along C3 Road in Quezon City on September 2, 2025 at around 6:30 p.m. on her way home from the office.  The victim's brother reported the incident to the AKG after receiving multiple mysterious phone calls. —LDF, GMA Integrated News