6 kidnappers killed in Bulacan police raid

Six suspected members of a kidnap-for-ransom group were killed Sunday in an encounter with police during a predawn rescue operation in Bulacan province, a police official said. Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) said three suspects were killed in a gunfight in the group’s safe house, while three others were killed in a running gun battle with policemen. One of the suspects was rushed to a nearby hospital but died before doctors there could treat him, according to Nerez. The operation resulted to the rescue of Avtar Singh, who was found blindfolded inside the group's hideout at Barangay Pio Cruzcosa in Calumpit town. Singh was abducted in Luzon Avenue, Barangay Pasong Tamo in Quezon City last Friday, December 4. His vehicle, a Toyota Innova (ZFZ 629), was also taken. Quoting Singh's wife, Amamia, Nerez said the kidnappers were initially asking for P30 million in exchange for the victim's safe release. "After a series of negotiation, the kidnappers accepted the counter offer of the family amounting to P75,000 and instructed her [Amamia] to deliver the money in Calumpit, Bulacan," Nerez said. He said they were able to trace the location of the kidnappers by following the vehicle used by the suspects in getting the ransom payment late Saturday night, December 5, along the Pulilan-Calimpit Road in Barangay Sto. Niño, also in Calumpit town. "With the help of the civilians living near the kidnappers' safe house, [we] were able to to trace the car used by the ransom-taker, parked at the garage of the safe house," Nerez said. Recovered from the two crime scenes were six firearms, the P75,000 ransom money, the victim's Toyota Innova and his two bank books, an ATM card of former kidnap victim Diosdado Fernando, and two cellphones. Singh was reunited with his family early Sunday after undergoing medical examination at the Pacer office in Camp Crame, Nerez said. - KBK, GMANews.TV