By Bernard Jaudian
A suspected leader of the Bonilla kidnap-for-ransom group, along with three other group members, were killed after a shootout with the police in Quezon City, while their two kidnap victims were rescued.
One of the neutralized suspects was believed to be Wilbert Bonilla, also known as ‘Bong Bong’ and the leader of the group, while his three cohorts are yet to be identified.
Meanwhile, the two rescued kidnapping victims are known to be working for a construction company.
According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), a joint operation was conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) Luzon Field Unit and QCPD Station 6 personnel to intercept and capture the suspects.
This was after a confidential informant revealed that the group planned to kidnap the owner of a construction company in Quezon City, the same company where the abducted victims are working.
A month-long surveillance was conducted prior to the armed encounter.
Around 1:00 a.m. today, Bonilla and his men stopped a car and abducted its two passengers.
The stolen vehicle was spotted at Batasan Hills along Commonwealth, alerting the police in the area while AKG operatives were following the car.
As they were travelling along Capital Hills, the suspects attempted to bypass a checkpoint and fired upon the police personnel.
A brief chase and gunfight ensued, leading to the four deaths.
Various firearms including a M-16 rifle, three .45 caliber pistols, and a .38 caliber revolver were found at the encounter site.
