SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna – Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, has ordered the meritorious promotion of policemen involved in the rescue of a kidnap-victim that resulted in the death of five suspected members of kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group at the Maharlika Highway in this city’s San Nicolas village at dawn Tuesday.
In an interview, Dela Rosa assured the promotion during his visit to policemen, who were wounded during the armed encountered with the suspected kidnappers, at the San Pablo City Medical Center Tuesday evening.
“I promise them that I am promoting them meritoriously to the next higher rank, including the none-injured who were in the operation,” Dela Rosa assured.
The wounded cops, who are members of the Candelaria police force, are PO1 January De Ramos Menfroza and PO1 Jun-Jun Jabola Villaflor. They are now in stable condition.
PO1 Sarah Jane Andal, also a member of the Candelaria police who was also wounded in the encounter but died on the way to the San Pablo City Medical Center, received a posthumous award.
The kidnap victim Ronaldo Arguelles from Candelaria, Quezon was also seriously wounded during the incident.
Laguna police identified the slain suspects as Juan Vicente Singabor, who sported the alias P02 Rebadulla; Jairo Olegario a.k.a P03 Dizon, both from Sauyo Road, Novaliches Quezon City; Kent Padernal Lim; Marcelino Sican a.k.a Daluz and another who remained unidentified.
The kidnappers were intercepted by the joint team of the Candelaria, Quezon and San Pablo City police teams and the PNP-Anti-Kidnapping Group operatives along the Maharlika Highway in this city early Tuesday morning.
“Bihira na mangyari yun na napakalaking grupo, nakuha natin yun lima, yun nga lang nagbuwis tayo ng isang buhay galing sa atin. Pero malaking accomplishment ito, kasi malaking grupo, (It rarely happens that we were able to neutralize five from a big group. It’s just sad that one of our members paid her life. But this is a big accomplishment for busting a big kidnapping group), so they deserved to be promoted,” the PNP Chief said.
Dela Rosa said that the kidnapping of Arguelles is a possible drug related case as he is included in the confirmed list of High Value Target (HVT) drug personality.
“So, easy money to the kidnappers to demand ransom money from the family of the victim. Lalong lalo na kung ang kukuha ay naka-uniform ng PDEA or naka-uniform ng police, matatakot talaga para magbigay ng pera. (Especially when those who will demand the pay-off are sporting the uniform from PDEA or the police because they (relatives) would be scared and thus give the ransom).” Dela Rosa said.
Meanwhile, kidnap victim Arguelles will be subjected to investigation for his drug-related cases. (Robert Maico/PNA)
