MANILA -- Authorities nabbed three kidnapping suspects, including an Indian national, in separate incidents, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde said Tuesday.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Albayalde said among those arrested was 38-year-old Indian national Joginder Singh, alias Jinder/Kang/Harry, a member of the Goldy Group.
He is involved in the kidnapping of another Indian national, Anial Kumar Sohal on August 13, 2017.
The warrant of arrest against Singh, who has been charged with kidnap for ransom and serious illegal detention with no bail recommended, was issued by the Regional Trial Court of Binan City, Laguna.
Singh was arrested by members of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group Special Operation Unit and Camalig Municipal Police Station in Albay on Saturday afternoon.
On Monday, AKG operatives arrested Esperidion Alastra, 44; and his wife Saturnina, 64, for their alleged involvement in at least two cases of kidnap-for-ransom.
The couple was collared in Bukidnon based on at least two arrest warrant issued by local courts.
“Esperidion Alastra is responsible for the kidnapping in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental on February 22 this year and listed as No. 4 of AKG-Mindanao Field Unit most wanted,” AKG spokesperson, Lt. Col. Elmer Cereno said.
Cereno said all AKG field units have been instructed to update their respective wanted lists and to run after them as a preemptive measure.
Meanwhile, AKG chief, Col. Jonnel Estomo said they have already shifted to accounting for all persons with records of KFR, particularly those who are included on their wanted list.
The reason, Estomo said, is that those who remain unaccounted for continue to go on with their illegal activities as what the results of the investigation would reveal.
“This is what our focus is now. I have already ordered the launching of manhunt against all kidnappers with warrant of arrest,” he said.
The AKG has reported a decline in cases of KFR in the past years.
But since 2017, cases of gambling-related kidnappings recorded a sharp increase wherein foreign victims were being kidnapped by their countrymen who are members of loan shark groups for failure to pay the money they used in playing in casinos. (PNA)
