BIŇAN CITY, Laguna -- Three suspected members of a kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group were killed in a gunfight with operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) around 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday.
The lawmen led by Police Superintendent Arthur Masongsong rescued the kidnap victim identified as Anial Sohal, an Indian national, around three hours earlier during the initial pay-off of some Php 935,000 near the Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Barangay Sto. Niño, Pasay City.
According to Masongsong, a hot pursuit operation was conducted against the KFR members who sped towards the vicinity of a fast food chain near the Southwoods tollgate along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Barangay San Francisco, this city.
He said the family’s representative and communicator, Sanile Sohal who had prior negotiation with the criminal group, delivered the initial ransom payment for the Php 20 million earlier demanded by the kidnap group.
The police anti-kidnapping team spotted the vehicle used by the three kidnappers including the suspected mastermind, a blue Toyota Corolla with plate number UMA 548.
At the Southwoods-SLEX, the police combined AKG and Biñan City cops flagged down the getaway vehicle and blocked its path.
This led to a gunfight between the pursuing police operatives and the kidnappers, who died on the spot.
Operatives identified one of the slain suspects, Indergight Singh alias “Goldy”, as the alleged mastermind, who was slumped on the driver’s seat, while the two other suspects remain unidentified as of this report.
Masongsong said they had placed under surveillance the kidnap-for-ransom group that preyed on Indian nationals.
Scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) went to the site to probe and gather evidence.
A brown envelope believed to contain the initial ransom money was recovered by investigators from the suspects' car.
The anti-kidnapping authorities continue to hunt down three other suspects who could be part of the ransom negotiating team. (Robert A. Maico/PNA)
